Bristol Ageing Better committed £250,000 to help kick start community activities that will help reduce isolation and loneliness amongst older people in Bristol. Music Therapy is a new activity idea and completely different from music education as it focuses on health, functioning and well being. Every person is unique and Stephen’s music therapy sessions are person-centred based. After a taster session with Music Therapy with Stephen at one of our Care Homes with excellent feedback from the residents and staff present we were thrilled when our application for Kick Start funding was successful and we were able to set up Music Therapy Sessions in the Able Care Homes. These person centred sessions help people to achieve non-musical goals to improve physical and mental health or functional outcomes.

Michael from Belvedere Lodge thoroughly enjoyed his 1:1 session with Stephen, Michael created this wonderful pastels painting during the session whilst listening to his favourite music with Stephen. Michael named his painting ‘Back to Nature’. Stephen within a holistic approach, regularly includes in his practice different creative music-related activities that stimulate whole-brain responses helping well-being, involving the residents in an interactive multi-sensory dialogue using the music as a medium to facilitate the expression of feelings and emotions, within an empathetic communication

As examples of how it stimulates activity, Stephen played drums Bongo drums with Sue who painted a picture of Stephen

Music Reaching Parts Other Activities Don't Reach