Singing in a nursing home.. *help*

[singingbirdie1]

Hello everone, Im new here 😁
Proud mom to my two beautiful daughters
I have read threads on here for a while but never thought to join! Well its 2019 now... new year new me and all that haha 😉

I have sang ever since I was a young girl.
As ive got older I wanted to start singing in nursing homes. So ive got myself a buisness plan ready.

I do have a good list of songs which I will add below but I just wanted your advice on what you think to them and also see of you can recommend any more?


1)Moon River - Audrey Hepburn
2) If I knew You Was Coming I'd Have Baked A Cake -Eileen Barton
     3) Dream A Little Dream - Doris Day
     4) Mamma Said  - The Shirelles
    5) Billy Don’t Be A Hero
   6) Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald
   7) Mr Postman - The Carpenters
   8) Fever - Peggy Lee
   9) Lifting me Higher - Jackie Wilson  
  10)Isn't This A Lovely Day - Ella Fitzgerald
  11)White Cliffs Of Dover - Vera Lynn
 12)I Can't Help Myself - Four Tops
 13)Be My Baby - The Ronettes
 14)You Are My Sunshine My Only Sunshine -  Johnny Cash
 15)Heaven Must Have Sent You - The Elgins
 16)Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry
 17) Blue Moon - Ella Fitzgerald
 18)Tears On My Pillow - little Anthony
 19)Come On Over To My Place -  The Drifters
 20) Fly Me to The Moon - Frank Sinatra


I wanted to mix and match some slow and some fast songs.

Thank you in advance! ❤

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

How old are you expecting them to be? There can't be that many still alive who have fond youthful memories of Vera Lynn singing. The other songs are fairly ageless though, and I like most of them.

How about some (early-ish) Beatles and Rolling Stones for those in their 70s and 80s?

[CoffeeRunner]

I work with the elderly (have just left a job in a care home actually) and also wonder if some of your choices are “new” enough?

Most of our residents were born in the mid 30’s to mid 40’s. So music from the 50’s & early 60’s might appeal?

[singingbirdie1]

Heyy, wow did not expect a reply so quick haha. Thank you

My nan is 86 and remembers white Cliffs Of Dover from been a young girl in the World war 2.

I was going to sing Hey Jude (short version)
As i know it goes on for around 8 minutes but its a lovely song xxxx

[singingbirdie1]

Everythings in place ready to go just so unsure on song choices I want to make it a nice experience for them. X

[PatPhoenix]

My mum who's 84 loved all the big musicals. So 'I could have danced all night' from My fair lady and Guys and Dolls from Guys and Dolls.

[LizB62A]

If this is something you're planning to charge for, it would be a good idea to get an idea of the ages of the people at each "target" nursing home and tailor your set list appropriately for each one

[singingbirdie1]

Thank you PatPhoenix. Im going to have a listen now.

Like I said im new and still trying to get hang of posting/replying working out mumsnet lol
So sorry if my replies are all over the place xx

[singingbirdie1]

Ahhhh see I have done that for a few and it mainly ranges from ages 75+ xxx

[walkingonsunshine71]

I have been supporting a lady with Alzheimer's who is in her mid 70's and she's loves anything from the 50s and 60s not interested in wartime stuff really.

[singingbirdie1]

Thanks walkingonsunshine! ❤ xxxx

[singingbirdie1]

Im going to go back through my list a little bit later today and see what I could do to make it more enjoyable for them xx

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

Can you sing anything with a bit of an edge to it? Or do only very mainstream, slightly-bland music lovers make it to old age? I'm only saying because your post made me think about myself in a care home and how I would be slightly disappointed if someone comes in to sing and it's all Wham, Madonna and Whitney Houston but no Bowie, Blondie or Stranglers (not that there is anything wrong with Wham, Madonna or Whitney Houston ... much).

[Livingthedream44]

It's strange because when I worked in a nursing Home twenty years ago that was the exact songs they loved, but I keep forgetting that time moves on and if I went back to a nursing Home they would be into a whole new era of music. Probably 50's/ 60's music?
I'm sure they'll love that line up though.

[mummmy2017]

Go to a few and ask for requests, offer a free hour singing fir helping you.

[Chutneyorchids]

I remember a friend doing this and she kept complaining that everybody asked for happy songs. Upbeat and fun. Lots of people sing in nursing homes and sing what they like or what they think they can sing best. Maybe include some fast numbers, songs usually sung by men and cheery show tunes. Good luck! Do you have Pa system or are you playing keyboard?

[Hoppinggreen]

Is this actually supposed to be a business rather than voluntary work?
If so have you got a business plan etc? If you do want to try and earn some money doing it that’s more important than song choice

[Sallygoroundthemoon]

Lovely idea but have a think about different songs. My mum is in her late 70s and loves the Rolling Stones and Pearl Jam! She gets very cross when people think she should be into Vera Lynn. That was her mother's generation.

[Hoppinggreen]

Apologies OP, you do say you have a business plan
Ignore me

[donajimena]

Lulu?
Cilla anyone who had a heart?
Neil Diamond?
Listen to Owen Money on radio Wales for inspiration he's on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Its a BBC channel

[singingbirdie1]

Thank you for your very quick helpful advice everyone.

I have my own PA system!
And like i said before have worked hard to get everything into place, just the song choices...

I want it to be enjoyable and fun for those im singing to and was really interested in other peoples thoughts on the song choices or what they would say would be a good song choice etc.

[PotteringAlong]

I also think you’re too early with your music. If you’re 75+ you’re looking at people who were probably not born until ww2 was finishing or who were very very young. They would have been 20 in the 60’s. You need to be singing 60’s music.

[BertrandRussell]

My ds does this. The Beatles, John Denver and Simon and Garfunkel are very popular. Your song choices are mostly much too old fashioned, apart from the proper classics. Remember that most of your audience will have been young in the late 1950s and 1960s!

[dancinfeet]

I'd second songs by Lulu or Cilla, or Connie Francis

[Claudiawinksatmen]

I visit care homes and nursing homes on a daily basis in a professional capacity, the musical entertainment that is number one on the residents list for most homes in this area is the Elvis impersonator.