Woodbury Senior Living Residents Find Their Groove

The halls (and rooms) are alive with the sound of music at —giving some special resident groups the ability to heal and express themselves in a way like no other.

A team of therapists are dedicated to making the residents’ quality of life better at the continuing care campus where, once a week, small focus groups participate in music therapy. Specialized, shorter-duration programming is also provided for dementia patients.

Some residents simply wouldn’t benefit from other types of programs, said Kathy Dunleavy, director of Community Life/Recreation Therapy Services at Woodbury Senior Living.

“It’s the only thing one resident gets up for," she said.

Some even take part in playing the music.

“They’ve come a long way in responding or playing. (Some) can’t communicate. (But) it brings out emotions—the different tempos and beats,” Dunleavy said. “These residents are physically and cognitively limited... music can help (them) communicate. There’s an area of the brain where it’s stored up there. Music is a part of everyone’s world. It’s a universal language that everyone can adapt to.”

The melodies can be taken to their bedside, and the music therapists customize the experience with certain instruments or musicians of the residents’ choice. The team coordinates with the nurses, keeps it small and focuses on certain residents, Dunleavy said.

Many residents have taken to looking up information on music on the Internet, studying composers or artists whose work appears in movies. (Some of the info makes its way into trivia games at the Woodbury facility.)

“It involves cognitive things. … It engages their brains while having fun,” Dunleavy said. “We play ‘Name That Tune.’ Music permeates everything—it can involve the creative and the physical. We use YouTube to see music performances. When we play balloon volleyball, while playing music, it exercises their range of motion.”

In a quaint and cozy room, a group of five residents sang and played instruments to When the Saints Go Marching In, That’s Amore’, and I Saw the Light as Jessica DeVillers, music therapist, led the group with her guitar and vocals.

Courtnie DeGrand, a music therapy intern from Augsburg College, participated in the session, encouraging each resident.

“It really increases their interest and engagement; it’s very therapeutic,” she said.

“We keep music continuous, as much as possible,” added Laura Fairweather, a recreation therapist who also helped to lead participants in the sing-along. “It’s very interactive—it’s all live music.”

DeVillers also developed a walking program in which music therapists allow the residents their choice of songs while they walk with the tune.

Music therapist Jenny Kupcho helped one resident, who wanted to be known as Jeanne, walk to the tune of Hey, Good Looking.

Mostly wheelchair-bound, Jeanne was eager to get up by herself as the notes began, emphatically resisting any help from Ali Washington, registered nursing assistant.

Jeanne started walking at a good pace while Kupcho sang and played her guitar. Other residents in the hallways stopped to watch; some came out of their rooms. One applauded.

Jeanne walked to the entire tune and wanted to continue. Kupcho obliged, transitioning to another song, Dixie Land, while rounding the corner. They walked down another hallway—where Jeanne rarely ventures.

“She won’t walk unless she has music,” Kupcho said, adding that this particular walk happened to be Jeanne’s personal best.

"Only when 'Jenny K' is here," agreed Washington.

And walking is important, Kupcho said. “Music distracts them when it hurts; it gives them a beat.”

Elsewhere, a small group of residents harmonized with staff to I’ve Been Working on the Railroad as though they had been singing together for a lifetime.

The music therapists conduct several larger music programs for the residents, as well as one-on-one music therapy visits throughout the week, said DeVillers.

“This variety allows us to meet many of our residents’ needs socially, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, cognitively, and physically, utilizing music as our intervention throughout the week,” she said.

DeVillers said that "psychology-related approaches" are often used in one-on-one settings.

“It allows for music to be used as a catalyst for emotional release and support,” she said. “Some of our patients suffer from depression related to the change (and) adjustment to living in long-term care. Music is one way that we can decrease depression and increase motivation, socialization that combats depression.” 

Not every nursing home or senior living facility has this type of program.

“It’s a neat position,” Fairweather said. “They open up to you."

DeVillers said Woodbury Senior Living is fortunate to have such a large program. “It’s team collaboration—very much a team effort. … It’s been really successful.”

Woodbury Senior Living is also a pilot site for the National Roster Music Therapy program, approved by the American Music Therapy Association.