An inside look at
Musical Armchair Travels
Facilitated through music, Musical Armchair Travels is a dementia-based program designed to trigger memories and encourage imaginative journeys through familiar songs, storytelling and shared discussion.
Music becomes a powerful tool to tease out memorable life experiences from participants, helping create engaging, therapeutic and socially enriching group sessions.
This unique training package includes:
A comprehensive training DVD
Practical session guidelines
Six fully prepared musical journey CDs
Step-by-step instructions for running meaningful sessions
Commentary and prompts to help connect songs with participants’ past travel experiences and memories
The resource was developed with the guidance of experienced aged care professionals and is especially valuable for new or less experienced staff wanting a ready-to-use, best-practice activity program.
Original Musical Armchair Travels Introduction
The first promotional video below explains the full structure of the program, including:
The training DVD
Session planning guide
The six prepared musical journeys
This video was originally created to answer the kinds of questions I used to receive when visiting aged care homes personally before the COVID years.
Over time, many people asked if they could actually see inside the program and hear more from the presenters themselves.
New “Inside the Program” Video
This second and more detailed presentation was created to answer those requests.
In this latest video, you will:
See excerpts from the training DVD
Meet the presenters behind the resource
Explore the prepared journeys in greater depth
Better understand how the commentary beneath each song can help stimulate memories and conversation
Learn how the program supports staff in creating meaningful dementia-focused group engagement
It runs a little longer than my usual videos because I wanted to properly address the questions and feedback received over the years and provide a clearer understanding of how the resource works in practice.
Final Stock Clearance
As many of you know, we will be closing on June 30.
Because of this, the remaining Musical Armchair Travels stock is now available at genuine stock-clearing pricing — with discounts of 70% or more while stock lasts.
It remains one of the most specialised and practical dementia-support music resources we have ever offered, and once remaining stock is gone, it will no longer be available.
Thank you for your support over the years.
Warm regards,
Graeme Pope
Honoured by the Words of Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO
We were truly privileged that she chose to write the foreword for Musical Armchair Travels.
This splendid creative initiative Musical Armchair Travels, will surely be a fine catalyst for staff who work with elders in care, contributing significantly to their positive spirits and wellbeing.
Indeed, this training and resource package provides valuable commentary from leading experts involved in dementia care and the influence of creative leisure. Guidance is also provided regarding the assessment and needs of the ageing participants, and ways in which to conduct this Musical Armchair Travels program.
Most importantly, the package also provides details of how to evaluate the outcome of this program for the recipients.
The six compact discs included in the package provide a delightful selection of music which will evoke images of popular travel destinations, maximising happy memories, and in particular, minimising emotions of deterioration, especially for participants living with dementia.
A true role model of senior years, Mr Barry Hall OAM, a veteran entertainer and a fine pianist, has arranged and recorded almost 600 pieces of music which our seniors know and love.
It is heartening also to note the virtual endorsement of this form of therapy through music by a world-leading Australian academic in the field of ageing and mental health, Professor Henry Brodaty AO, who, together with Alzheimer’s Australia and The National Prescribing Service has advocated non-pharmacological approaches for managing depression or dementia symptoms of the elderly in aged care.
Research in this field is confirming the positive response of this approach, from aged care staff across the various disciplines, including academics, allied health, diversional and recreational therapists. Such endorsement is already so enthusiastic, that a further
music therapy training resource is in production.
Given the ever-increasing numbers of aged citizens across our nation, this approach through music as therapy will be increasingly welcome.
Person-centred care, certainly, is a welcome — and essential — component within high quality aged care.
Consequently, aged care professionals themselves are becoming increasingly receptive to implementing this positive component within the programs they deliver in order to achieve the highest possible benefit.
Our aged citizens have given so much across their lives to contribute to a great Australia.
It is so fitting that this positive experience of music as therapy be available to all.
Professor the Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO
Foreword As It Appears In The Musical Armchair Travels Resource
