for those in LTC..what songs do your residents like?

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2012

They like songs from back in their day. I would do a google search. If they are alert try to ask them. My residents always like when I sang that my little sunshine song to them. lol

AshleyinSTL · Feb 17, 2012

Yeah, I searched online, but there are so many hits, I don't know how to narrow it down. Many of them are alert, and do like to sing, but I don't go back until next Wednesday, so I wanted to have something by then. I've always been a fan of songs from the 40's anyway, so I'm sure I'll be able to come up with something fun.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2012

Yeah, I searched online, but there are so many hits, I don't know how to narrow it down. Many of them are alert, and do like to sing, but I don't go back until next Wednesday, so I wanted to have something by then. I've always been a fan of songs from the 40's anyway, so I'm sure I'll be able to come up with something fun.

Good for you for taking time to brighten your residents' day. They are blessed to have you. You are off to a great start. Wishing you well in your new career.

LPNnowRN · Feb 17, 2012

I can only hope that when I'm in the home they let me play Metallica and watch Star Wars and The Matrix on TV!!! Rock ON!

LPNnowRN · Feb 17, 2012

I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Tony Bennett. Anything Frank Sinatra or Doris Day. Big band music.

rubato, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2012

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, the Glenn Miller Band, The Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, and I can't think beyond that. I'm a huge Frank fan myself, and you can't go wrong with any of his stuff.

nguyency77, CNA · Feb 17, 2012

My facility doesn't have a memory care unit, but I did have a patient with dementia who really liked the birthday song in Spanish.

I would go with big bands.

You are so sweet! I'm sure that your residents would love that!

netglow, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2012

Barry Manilow greatest hits - Try them, you'll see. Not kidding!!!

Yllomia · Feb 18, 2012

Ain't She Sweet

Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue

Take Me Out To the Ballgame

You Are My Sunshine

I second anything Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, or Dean Martin. One facility I used to work at used to have a song book with lyrics to a lot of the residents' favorite songs. I think this is such a great project. Familiar music really helps when caring for people with dementia.

JacknSweetpea · Feb 18, 2012

Uh, let's see...working in a geri-psych LTC, it ranges from the music they make themselves to "Ain't Nothin' But a G Thang".....

IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN · Feb 18, 2012

How very thoughtful of you! :hug:

Really can't disagree with anything here (although Metallica may be a bit much for this generation - me, I'm holding out for Iron Butterfly/Deep Purple/Jimi Hendrix) - with my mother, it was a lot easier since I knew her musical tastes.

As a general case - anything easy listening, specific to a particular time period that they'd recognize (e.g. Big Band, jazz, ragtime) or generally mellow should be fine. For example - my mother really liked Glenn Miller, Engelbert Humperdinck, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby...again, mellow & laid back. She also liked Elton John - go fig.

I'd just pick artists that have a rep for relatively mellow music & go off of their their "Greatest Hits" albums/CD's/collections. Try and stay away from anything somber or melancholy, though - a bit more upbeat, if you can.

My :twocents: - take it for what it's worth.

----- Dave

p.s. That said - when I was doing my CNA clinicals, one afternoon I had the privilege of seeing a bunch of septuagenarians rockin' out to Journey on VH1 in the activity room. I alternated between cracking up (internally) and realizing - gee, I'm REALLY getting old here!