Mamma Mia!

West Farm were treated to a spectacular Abba tribute show last week and it certainly did not disappoint.

The act, provided by Christine Rosemond, a specialist provider of entertainment for those living in care homes, was a huge hit with residents of which a few are definitely Abba enthusiasts! The band sang songs such as Dancing Queen, Waterloo and, a very firm favourite, Knowing Me, Knowing You.

Residents were really familiar with the songs; instantly recognising some of Abba’s greatest hits and interacting with the performers who provided an excellent show.

Incorporating live entertainment into our car provision really is important. Many of those in our care are living with dementia and such acts really help them to not only connect with memories of the past and remind them of certain phases and moments in their lives but it also provides an opportunity for them to create brand new memories, which is a vital part of helping those living with the disease to maximise their quality of life.

Sarah Avery, our wellbeing champion at West Farm, said: “It was wonderful to see a lot of the residents connect with the songs easily and have the confidence to join in and sing along to some of the more popular hits.

“Bringing live music into our home is a very planned and highly organised activity. It has to be the right kind of band who have lots of experience in performing to an elderly audience in a very specific way.

“Delivering such an activity really does bring such great benefits to our residents. Not only are residents engaged throughout the performance and clearly enjoying themselves, they’re also really relaxed and calm following such activities and often interact with one another a lot more which is what we like to see.”

If you’d like to know more about our live entertainment plans for 2020, please do get in touch with Kim Stubbs, our wellbeing champion at Cramlington House on 01670 591 930 or Sarah Avery who is our wellbeing champion at West Farm Care Centre on 0191 218 9626.

Residents enjoying the ABBA tribute performance

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"I am very pleased with how my mother has settled in and generally how supportive and caring the staff are. This has given us peace of mind knowing that she is safe & well looked after. Thank you."
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