At Rick’s Heart Foundation, we believe in the power of music to uplift and transform lives. Our Heart for Music (HFM) program continues to grow in its mission of enhancing the well-being of seniors in long-term care homes across Canada. By providing access to music through tablets, headphones, Spotify accounts, and speakers, we bring joy and comfort to thousands of residents. Music has a profound ability to connect people with their memories, improve their mental health, and reduce feelings of isolation.
As we reflect on our progress in 2024, we are proud of the impact HFM has made so far and are excited to share our latest updates.
2024 in Numbers: Reaching New Heights
This year, the Heart for Music program has continued to expand its reach, impacting over 10,000 residents in 29 care homes across Canada. This is made possible by our dedicated team, consisting of 2 full-time staff, 2 summer students, and 2 volunteers. Together, they have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the program, from delivering equipment to running music events and ensuring each facility has the support it needs.
Here’s a snapshot of our progress in 2024:
29 new facilities are part of the HFM program.
We’ve organized 9 engaging events this year, both community and live music events where residents have enjoyed live music, and interacted with musicians.
Each care home is equipped with an average of 1 Spotify Family account per location, allowing staff to create tailored playlists that suit the preferences of residents.
Residents have access to 4 tablets per location to explore music, watch performances, or participate in virtual music therapy sessions.
We’ve provided, on average, 4 headsets per location to ensure that residents who wish to listen to music privately can do so with ease.
Each location also has been given on average, 2 speakers, allowing music to be played in common areas, bringing residents together in shared musical experiences.
Ontario Expansion: Bringing Music to Care Homes Across the Province
In addition to expanding the number of care homes we serve; we have also had the opportunity to visit facilities across Ontario and see firsthand how music is improving the lives of seniors. Recent visits to Copernicus Lodge and Ivan Franko Homes stand out as highlights of our journey this year. These visits provided us with a unique chance to connect with residents and staff and witness the transformative power of music in action.
We’ve captured the joy and engagement from these visits in videos that showcase the residents’ experiences. You can watch the videos from one of our care home visits below to see the magic of Heart for Music in action:
Looking Ahead
As we continue into the latter half of 2024, we are excited to see where Heart for Music will go next. Our team is dedicated to expanding the program to new care homes, ensuring that even more seniors can experience the power of music. With the help of the Rick’s Heart Foundation community, our generous supporters, partners, and volunteers, we are confident that Heart for Music will continue to grow and positively impact the lives of seniors across Canada.
Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t forget to follow our journey as we bring music to care homes across the country!
Comments