Kinsmen Lodge’s music therapy initiative supports the wellbeing of elders with dementia

We have provided a $21,000.00 grant to Kinsmen Lodge to provide music therapy for elders in long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative will coincide with their agentic and mindful mental health and wellness services which support elders with various cultural backgrounds and health needs, particularly those with dementia.

Kinsmen Lodge’s long-term elder care ensures quality care to elders with various health issues through individualized support pertaining to the physical, social, emotional and health needs of each resident. Kinsmen Lodge offers a caring, compassionate and safe environment wherein a holistic and loving approach to resident care is applied. With a focus on self-agency, Kinsmen Lodge ensures that residents remain connected to ensure their wellbeing and that residents remain supported to encourage their individual potential. Since 1975, Kinsmen Lodge has provided a unique experience, producing an environment where loneliness, helplessness and boredom are eliminated in their long-term care facility. Kinsmen Lodge’s vision is therefore pivotal for the ongoing support of elders.

Christopher Harrison Kathleen Kennedy-Strath Akylina Grace

“Music has been shown to improve mood, reduce dementia-related behaviors, and generally makes people with dementia happier” explained Christopher Harrison, Kinsmen Lodge’s Director of Recreation and Volunteer Services. He added that “the overall benefit to the community is by providing meaningful activity and social interaction for our seniors” as a replacement for the loss of in-person visitors due to COVID-19. By hiring an extra music therapist, their hope is to make up for this time lost and produce a musical connection to support the wellbeing of their residents.

The grant is made possible through the Government of Canada's new $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund, which saw over $900,000 allocated to SurreyCares.

Christine Buttkus, Executive Director of SurreyCares, explained that "COVID-19 has increased the urgency to support the physical, social, emotional and health needs of our seniors. This program fosters well-being for elders in long-term care whose visits have been limited. As we approach Canada’s nationwide Seniors Day on October 1st, we wish to celebrate the life-long contributions of the older adults in our community. We are also pleased to raise awareness of staff continuing to deliver caring programs that support seniors even during these difficult times.”

The Emergency Community Support Fund is being delivered through a national partnership with Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Centraide Canada and the Canadian Red Cross.

Find out more about Kinsmen Lodge at https://www.kinsmenlodge.ca/.