Engaging Seniors Through Song (8 credits)

Presented by Sally Bonkrude

Singing is often at the heart of music therapy with older adults. But how do you move beyond simply choosing a familiar song and singing it together?

Engaging Seniors Through Song gives you practical ways to use singing and song-based experiences to encourage self-expression, memory, social connection, play, and meaningful participation with older adults, including clients experiencing cognitive changes, depression, or anxiety.

You’ll explore a variety of singing activities and learn how to build additional therapeutic experiences around familiar music. Whether your goal is to encourage reminiscence, invite conversation, increase interaction, support emotional expression, or simply create moments of enjoyment and connection, you’ll gain ideas you can adapt to the needs and abilities of your clients.

You’ll also receive a playlist of popular songs for adults approximately ages 70–100, helping you expand your repertoire and spend less time searching for music that may be familiar and meaningful to the people you serve.

You’ll leave with new song ideas, accompanying activities, and practical ways to make singing experiences more interactive and purposeful in both individual and group music therapy sessions.

In this workshop, you will learn:

How to use singing and familiar songs to encourage emotional expression, memory, social interaction, and self-esteem.
Creative ways to extend familiar songs into meaningful music therapy experiences rather than relying on sing-alongs alone.
How to encourage participation and connection with older adults experiencing cognitive changes, depression, or anxiety.
Ways to incorporate reminiscence, conversation, play, and socialization into song-based experiences.
How to adapt singing activities for different abilities, needs, and levels of participation.
A repertoire of popular songs for older adults that you can begin incorporating into your sessions.
Practical song-based activities you can add to your music therapy toolkit and use with both individuals and groups.

Here’s what people are saying:

“Very useful to have Sally’s and the participants’ resources and ideas.- I’m inspired.”

” I loved Sally’s relaxed approach to the subject. She assumed that we knew all this material and just needed to be reminded. Her examples were easy to relate to and jogged my memory for similar examples from my own experiences. Even though our music therapy clientele is quite dissimilar, there is a common thread of human behavior that runs through both.” Susan McRae P.

” I will definitely use the online resources to create new activities. Ideas of other therapists have been inspirational and have sparked my own creativity. I will be able to use the research in any presentations I may be doing for new facilities.” Heather F.

“ONE THING!!! How can I synthesize or prioritize? I think the most profound information–and useful in many ways-was the information on the biological and functional benefits of singing. I think we all know from experience in our practices how it is the real manna–but this factual, research based info seals the deal.” Sally W.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to describe one way to find song resources for seniors of all ages and abilities.
Participants will be able to name one singing activity to express emotions.
Participants will be able to list 12 activities that can be integrated with singing.
Participants will be able to name one singing activity to engage seniors coping with depression and/or anxiety.

Schedule

Part 1

Introductions and Overview of Training Why sing? How does singing affect the body/mind according to the latest research? How to make song choices Song Resources for Seniors of all ages Finding Lyrics, sheet music, song books, songs from the 20’s-60’s 12 Activities that can be integrated into singing Learn ways to integrate relaxation and stress reduction into singing Integrating themes and sensory stimulation with song

Part 2 Singing activities to engage seniors with anxiety Singing activities to engage seniors with depression Singing with Lower Cognitive Functioning Seniors Singing and Alzheimer’s More Resources for working with seniors Hospice and Music Therapy

6 hours of recordings and 1 hour self study assignment=7 contact hours

CBMT Domain Areas:

Domain III Implementation: 3A-3 Treatment modification within and across sessions based on the client's response and growth (e.g., alternate applications of music, appropriate music selection, adaptation of the physical/virtual session space); 3A-7 Music therapy methods used to support therapeutic outcomes (e.g., improvising, recreating, composing, listening, moving); 3A-10 Clinical adaptation of musicianship to address therapeutic needs;

3A-11 Effects of music elements and music experience (e.g., psychological, emotional, physical) and Task Statement 36 Engage the client in individualized music therapy experiences to address the client's established goals and objectives within multiple domains of health and well-being (e.g., psychosocial, physiological, spiritual, musical)

Engaging Seniors Through Song is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 8 CMTEs-Continuing Music Therapy Education credits. The Spiegel Academy, CBMT Approved Provider #P-106, maintains responsibility for program quality and adherence to CBMT policies and criteria.

Class Description