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

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Hi, I'm an LPN student. We're doing clinicals in a nursing home and I've completely fallen in love with these people. I've noticed that even if (especially if) they have dementia, they love to sing the old 40's songs. I want to make a cd to bring there to play during exercise time or something. I've looked online at hits from the 40's and 50's, but I was hoping to narrow it down. If you are at a LTC facility and you guys like to sing, what are the favorite songs? Thanks in advance. :)

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Specializes in LTC.

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

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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.

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Specializes in LTC.
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.

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Specializes in LTC.

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!

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Specializes in LTC.

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

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

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.

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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!

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

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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.

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Specializes in drug seekers and the incurably insane..

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".....

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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!

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