Music Makes the World Go Round at Sanford House
Musical therapy is always popular at Sanford House and with three different entertainers visiting the home over the past few weeks, residents are certainly feeling the benefits.
Musical Keys Bring Singing and Laughter
Tommy from Musical Keys is a firm favourite with everyone at Sanford House in Dereham, Norfolk. Musical Keys is a charity whose passion is making music accessible to everyone and Tommy always generates a huge amount of enthusiasm. His visits inevitably result in a lounge full of singing, with different musical instruments ringing out and lots of laughter. He brings so much joy to all that come to watch his sessions, and residents often comment, “Fantastic!” or “Marvellous!” - or on some occasions “You forgot the words!” which always makes everyone laugh.
Collaborating with Bells and Pompoms
Elegant singer, Louise Elder, also came to sing for residents recently, and she is becoming someone the residents very much look forward to seeing. They also get very collaborative with the music-making, shaking the bells and pompoms that Louise brings with her, and she always tries to get the residents involved in the singing. Of course, if they would rather just watch and enjoy, she holds their hands and gives them a little individual time to make them feel special. Residents have commented “Oh, she has a lovely voice” and “She’s so lovely”.
The Singing Gardener Sows Seeds of Joy
‘The Singing Gardener’, also known as Amanda, is the newest entertainer to visit the home and brings music and fun to Sanford. Amanda especially enjoys taking requests and does themed shows. Her recent visit fell between International Women's Day and Mother's Day so to mark the occasions, she only performed songs that had been sung by women. This went down a treat and everyone had a great time guessing who the next song had been sung by. Although lot of the guesses were wrong it was all part of the fun and Amanda sang beautifully, including “Coat of Many Colours” (Dolly Parton), “Mamas little Girl” (Doris Day) and “Windmills of your Mind” (Dusty Springfield). Residents were also given inflatable microphones and one resident joined Amanda in a song using her real (unplugged) microphone. Reflecting on the session afterwards, residents said, “That was a fun afternoon” and “I enjoyed the choice of songs”.
The interaction and socialisation that these sessions bring are very important as they include everyone and make all the residents feel comfortable. Music seems to entice even the shyest of people to the lounges, encouraging them to take part or just to sit at the sides and sing quietly. There’s no doubt that music brings pleasure, as well as bringing people together, and these musical gatherings are a real highlight in the Sanford House calendar.
Providing Warm and Compassionate Care
At Sanford House Nursing Home in Dereham, we understand how emotional and uncertain the journey into care can be, whether you're looking for support with daily living, dementia care, or end-of-life palliative care for a loved one.
Our welcoming, purpose-built home offers residential, nursing, dementia and palliative care in a peaceful, single-storey setting designed for comfort and ease of access. Thoughtfully arranged around a sensory courtyard garden, many rooms open directly onto this calming outdoor space, offering a sense of privacy, peace and connection with nature.
We’re here to offer reassurance, dignity and personalised care every step of the way. For more information, please contact us on 01793 379 684
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