Since October 2019, a music kiosk has been installed in the geriatric short-stay service of the Saint-Philibert Hospital in Lomme (Northern France). A user-friendly and even therapeutic tool for hospitalized seniors.
Developing the social bond
Michèle Lemaître, a volunteer with the Pink Coats Association, explains: "This terminal already equips several hospitals in France. We thought it was an interesting tool for seniors, to facilitate intergenerational, social bonding, against isolation, because people exchange with each other and with their families from the songs".
Multi-purpose
The Mélo terminal is out almost every day, in the corridor with background music, at the free disposal of the people; or in the living room, especially to liven up the coffee time after the meal.
The terminal can be used for many purposes: karaoke, games around singers, playlist creation, musical atmosphere or as a tool for high time animations. It contains 3,000 songs, selected from a survey of 300 elderly people. We find French standards such as Claude François, Jean Ferrat, Édith Piaf, songs from guinguettes, operas... " We sing with the people! "laughs Audrey Becq, nurse coordinator of the service.
Soothing and working on memory
"For people with behavioural problems, music is soothing and helps to enter into a dialogue with them. People who don't talk much discuss their favourite singer. It's good for morale, and when you're in good spirits, rehabilitation goes better! ».