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

[AshleyinSTL]

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. :)

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Do you have any Sing along with Mitch records?

also... Home, Home on the Range

and another vote for You are my Sunshine.

[macgirl]

Go to Amazon and look under the greatest hits of the 40's. Songs from WWII.

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=greatesthits%20of%20the%2040's&rh=n%3A5174%2Ck%3Agreatest%20hits%20of%20the%2040's&page=1#/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Apopular%2Ck%3Agreatest+hits+of+the+40%27s&keywords=greatest+hits+of+the+40%27s&ie=UTF8&qid=1329530285

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

or if you have any Michael Buble he does WONDERFUL renditions of Sinatra!

[blackbird singing]

Dean Martin. And Slim Whitman (if you can handle some yodeling :) )

[littlekaneRN]

I remember as a nursing student in LTC, one of the nurses singing "On The Way To Cape May" with one of the residents!

[JMNLVN]

I am currently an LVN at an LTC/SNF facility in a pretty small town. All my residents LOVE when we sing old country music or Elvis!

[Pixiesmom, BSN, RN]

Don't forget Johnny Mercer! I know you mentioned music but some of my fondest memories of LTC was watching my residents as they enjoyed the Lawrence Welk show.

[MattNurse, MSN, RN]

Try one of those Rod Stewart old time CD's, Paul McCartney has a new CD out of classics.

[Lynx25, LPN]

I have several residents who are HUGE fans of Elvis, including one who is quite sure she is Elvis' Widow.

Try some of his stuff and see what reaction you get.

No gospel, really. If your facility is like mine, they are oversaturated in it. One little lady told me, no joke: "Church, Church, Church, that's all we ever D--n do. I love my Jesus, but I think he's stalking me."

[rose-n-arrows]

I have found that songs with an easily recognized chorus go over well. "I've been workin' on the rail road", "Oh my Darling, Clementine" "My Bonnie lies over the ocean", "My country tis of thee", "Yankee Doodle" to name a few. I googled and went through lots of songs and printed them out, etc. The residents have a handful of favorites where they can chime in with the lyrics they remember. We hardly go into the second verses because it's no longer fun for them when they can't just sing along from memory.