A group of Vanier CEGEP students is bringing the gift of music to residents of the Jewish Eldercare Centre.
Many of the residents live with dementia or other cognitive losses and the centre says the performances are an important part of their day.
The program began a few years ago with a keyboard and 20-year-old student Xinli Zhuang.
“He was really the driving force behind having this thing blossom into what it is today,” said Lisa Patterson of the Jewish Eldercare Centre.
Xinli started playing music 14 years ago and got the idea to found the music program after he started volunteering at the centre.
“Since I'm also a volunteer in the centre myself, so it's a nice way for the people… to have some music come in,” he said.
Now with many instruments and musical style, the program has been a big success.
“They bring some happiness and entertainment to the residents and spend time with them socially, reminisce - it's just great all around,” said Patterson.
Many residents live with dementia or other cognitive losses, so short term memory is not the best.
They may be more connected to their long-term memory and hearing older tunes can take them back to their younger days.
Music is the great equalizer. Some may remember the piece, but even residents who don't recall it can enjoy the melody.
“I enjoy them all. Anything with music is excellent. Anything. It could be jazz, it could be anything at all, I'm there. I love music,” said resident Rose Meltzer.
The students enjoy the impact the program is having.
“It wakes them up. So, people who haven't smiled, people who haven't had a conversation in a while will start perking up again and you'll see them become more lively and it's such a beautiful thing,” said Vanier student Laurent Lapierre.
The program is now on hiatus for the summer but once classes resume, so will the music.
