THE PROJECT AIMS TO CREATE JOY IN HEALTHCARE AND HOSPITAL SETTINGS BY PROVIDING LIVE MUSIC FOR OLDER PEOPLE
BY RIONA MAGUIRE
Extra funding has been shelled out to a project which sees musicians visit hospitals and healthcare settings across Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, performing for the patients and residents.
The Musicians on Call (Phase 2) project provides a music sharing experience that puts the residents’ interests and choices at the heart of music making.
The project connects closely with the setting before each visit and facilitates the residents to curate each visit through a two-way responsive engagement.
It aims to bring high-quality live music to vulnerable older members of our communities in a way that is more than an outside-in audio live broadcast, driven by equity of experience for all, and a shared social experience.
It also aims to provide introductory Music in Healthcare Workshops to HSE staff to raise awareness of how to support the needs of residents in music activities and to promote health and well-being through the provision of cultural events for those who live and work in Healthcare Settings.
It is led by Limerick City and County Council Arts Office in collaboration with Age Friendly Limerick and Healthy Limerick and delivered in partnership with Artistic Partner Music and Health Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Clare and Tipperary County Councils.
It is funded by Creative Ireland Creativity in Older Age.
The programme will deliver a series of on-site visits to a number of locations:
- St Ita’s Community Nursing Unit, Newcastle West
- St Camillus’ Hospital, Limerick
- Ennistymon Community Nursing Unit
- Regina House, Kilrush
- St Conlon’s Community Nursing Unit, Nenagh
- Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles
The forward-thinking project hopes to continue to develop a regional team of professional musicians with the skills to work appropriately and safely and offer an opportunity for professional musicians to join the project and gain experience alongside experienced fully trained Healthcare Musicians.
It also wants to extend the geographic reach of the Musicians-On-Call mentoring project, with a view to developing a longer-term programme.
This second phase of the project expands and builds on the earlier phase in 2021.
Dr. Pippa Little, Arts Officer with Limerick City and County Council and Creative Ireland Limerick Coordinator said the projects offers an opportunity for “joy and engagement” in healthcare settings;
In a statement, she said: “Musicians on Call with Music and Health Ireland brings specially trained musicians into healthcare settings to enable residents and staff to enjoy music. Creativity and wellbeing are at the heart of this programme, offering moments of joy and engagement.
“The funding secured from Creative Ireland Creativity in Older Age programme has made the expansion of this programme possible across the three local authorities of Limerick, Clare and Tipperary.”
