Live Music Now Scotland offers bespoke performances for adults and older people, many with a range of needs including living with dementia, social isolation or additional support needs.
Each year, our musicians deliver hundreds of performances and workshops, bringing the transformative power of music to thousands of people across Scotland.
To be part of an audience, sharing a live music experience is a sensory and inclusive opportunity for them to spend time together with family, friends and carers in their own environment, making it unique and enjoyable for all.Riverbank Resource Centre, Stirling
LMNS works in a range of settings for adults and older people including:
- Day centres and residential care facilities for adults with additional support needs or in respite care
- Day centres and care homes for older people with dementia related illness
- Lunch and social clubs for older people
- Public dementia friendly performances with partners including National Galleries of Scotland, Capital Theatres, Luminate, Glasgow Life and Macrobert Arts Centre.
- Creative projects with multicultural musicians who are seeking asylum
- Veterans
- Adults in hospital and hospices
I haven’t seen the look of enjoyment on my Dad’s face for a long time.
Daughter of Resident at Mosswood Care Home
Projects for Adults & Older People
We offer a variety of sessions, ranging from one-off concerts and creative music projects to longer term residency programmes, tailored to suit the needs of those participating. Our musicians consult with staff in the planning and delivery of all activities.
Musician in Residence Programme
Long-term, regular visits from an ensemble selected in consultation with participants can have a lasting impact on the wellbeing of care home residents and service-users
Composing with Care
A professional composer will create new songs using memories gathered from older people through performance and reminiscence, around any theme that is relevant to your group. Previous themes include World War One and Island life, the mining industry and the Paisley mills.
Sing Me a New Song
An opportunity for older people to write and perform new songs with our specially trained musicians around a theme of the group’s choosing.
Time for Traditional Tunes
A specially designed residency programme designed to bring together time and music for the benefit of older people in residential and day care settings.
Dementia Friendly Performances
Bringing together two groups who often do not interact with each other – older people in residential care homes and pre-school children – through intergenerational performances.
Together in Tune
Bringing together two groups who often do not interact with each other – older people in residential care homes and pre-school children – through intergenerational performances.
Traditions of the World Unite
Bringing together two groups who often do not interact with each other – older people in residential care homes and pre-school children – through intergenerational performances.
Focus on our work with older people
Older people in care homes often have long periods of time without contact from family and friends, leading to social and emotional isolation with increasing numbers of people being diagnosed as living with dementia. Locally and nationally, authorities are recognising this as an issue that needs a comprehensive approach and are introducing new strategies to deal with the social and wellbeing effects of dementia. A key theme of improving quality of life for those living with dementia is lessening the use of medicines and increasing participation in group or creative activity.
It has been shown that participating in arts activities is extremely beneficial for older people with dementia, improving such things as communication, memory, enjoyment of life and creative thinking. Recent research featured in the 2018 Cochrane Review and by the Music Health Foundation acknowledges the value for people taking part in arts programmes including:
- improved symptoms of depression and overall behavioural problems
- reduce levels of anxiety and improve emotional well-being, including quality of life
- improved communication between residents and between residents and staff
- a sense of self-identity and a feeling of being valued
- positive effects on physical wellbeing through taking part in singing and dancing
- enhanced opportunities for individual care by using the music sessions as a way of increasing staff knowledge of each person in their care
Those who have taken part in LMNS sessions tell us that they feel happier, more stimulated and less lonely.
It is widely evidenced that participating in music activities can be beneficial for mental and physical wellbeing through lifting moods and decreasing anxiety levels. Specifically, for older people living with dementia, research shows music activities support improved communication, articulation of emotions, memory/cognitive functions, eating, dressing, taking medication, sleeping, engagement with the outside world, enjoyment of life and creative thinking.
Get in Touch
Find out how we can work in your community