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Original poster

Care home music

66 replies

Whoopitywhoops · 18/12/2023 16:14

I passed a care home today and it must have been a Christmas party or something as the music was loud. It was the usual Vera Lynn style war music. It got me thinking. Will care homes ever move on from this style of music? The vast majority of residents even now won't remember songs like 'we'll meet again' as they came out over 80 years ago and although some will be in their 80s and 90s they'll only have been very young at this time. I can't see care homes playing Taylor Swift etc in 80 years but if I ever end up in a care home I'd be sick of my life if I had to sit and listen to Vera Lynn and co. Will it ever move on?

OP posts:
WitsEnd10 · 18/12/2023 16:47

I’m hoping for some thrash metal and hip-hop. Niche in the market perhaps?

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 18/12/2023 16:49

We had this conversation with activities co-ordinator at my mum's home. She was asking residents and visitors for suggestions for the karaoke sessions. My mother, a very "proper" 87 years old had the usual Tom Jones/Jim Reeves/Val Doonican on her list together with Boy George and the Pogues. We were wondering if in years to come the residents would be singing along to Megan Thee Stallion and Taylor Swift.

Slushynana · 18/12/2023 16:50

@peasand that would be my wish too, let’s hope we are in the same home!

Echobelly · 18/12/2023 16:51

I've noticed... we seem stuck in this idea that 'old people' lived through all of WWII, but that's not accurate at all. I have heard that more homes and old people's events are starting to be more about 50s and 60s now, but we can't seem to shake this idea that it's all WWII.

I find it hilarious we might be having raves in care homes when my generation gets there - a bunch of crumblies shuffling around to 'On a Ragga Tip' and 'Original Nutta' 😂

stormy11 · 18/12/2023 16:56

If I end up in one they better play rock/metal otherwise I'm not going 😂

Newsenmum · 18/12/2023 16:56

I think the issue is that ages can range from late 50s(!) to the odd 100 year old.

I wonder if we’ll have lava lamps and dolphins everywhere.

Tupperwarelid · 18/12/2023 17:00

They always have Elvis on when I go to visit my Dad.

gotomomo · 18/12/2023 17:02

Lots of 60's music in our local one, they do dip into 50's and 40's but also play classical and musical theatre

Peasand · 18/12/2023 17:03

The thing is, even if you’re older. You probably still listen to current music .
I’m in my 60’s, listen to Taylor Swift and Meghan Trainer and current music , as well as stuff that was popular in my teens.
My son is in his early twenties and he listens to the Ink Spots who last had a hit in the 1940’s.

mid you have Spotify or computer games, you get exposed to music from all eras.

gotomomo · 18/12/2023 17:04

I'm hoping for grunge and maybe some Smiths myself Grin

Fannyfiggs · 18/12/2023 17:06

Perhaps we should all get together with the metal/rock gals and guys in one care home, the 80s chicks and blokes in another etc.

RoseMartha · 18/12/2023 17:09

I visited my mum yesterday in her care home it was regular Christmas stuff in the background.

kerstina · 18/12/2023 17:12

I visit my mum in a care home. We play Elvis,Beatles, Stones ,Gene Pitney,Kinks and some 80’s stuff I know she likes . Mom is 78 but her friend in there is 90 she likes Vera lyn.
I am very much someone who likes to play newer music . I don’t listen to the stuff I used to like in the past so I won’t like being in a care home !

SisterhoodNotCisterhood · 18/12/2023 17:13

I work in one and it's more Neil Diamond, Elton, ABBA or Elvis. I did have a giggle when someone had put on 90's club hits one day though and a couple of carers and I started a bit of a pretend rave while handing out teas and biscuits in the lounge.

We still have a few residents who grew up listening to Vera Lynn if only because their parents did. I love early Queen, The Who and a few others that were big before I was born. Vera Lynn will eventually disappear but we've a wee while yet.

charmedtomeetyou · 18/12/2023 17:14

@Fieldofbrokenpromises I'll be joining you pal! I miss Mark E Smith so much ! Ps do you get my name ?

SparkyBlue · 18/12/2023 17:17

alongtimeagoandfaraway · 18/12/2023 16:38

My mother in law’s otherwise wonderful care home had Daniel O’Donnell playing on loop. It would have driven me demented.

My friend was a nurse in a residential home for adults with intellectual disabilities and Daniel O Donnell was played non stop at the request of the residents (now to be fair many had seen him in concert and he was amazing with them and made such an effort with them)

Christmassss · 18/12/2023 17:17

My DM’s care home is big on Elvis and luckily so is my DM (and me).

HelpMeGetThrough · 18/12/2023 17:20

It'll be Michael Jackson.

Watching the residents dance will be like a scene from the Thriller video.

Allwelcone · 18/12/2023 17:20

@SisterhoodNotCisterhood sounds fun. Did any residents join in the rave?
I sometimes wonder how the psychedelic hippie free thinkers will take to a care home generally. They might like the drugs!

piscofrisco · 18/12/2023 17:22

I managed care homes for older people very briefly before I moved into mental health. But in all settings the key has been to let the people that live there choose! So we ended up with a huge carry of things being played, plus some random choices at movie night etc. you can't please all the people all the time but you can try and give them what they want where possible

Toddlerteaplease · 18/12/2023 17:26

They better play proper choral and organ music when I'm in a care home! No pop stuff for me thanks!

SisterhoodNotCisterhood · 18/12/2023 17:37

Allwelcone · 18/12/2023 17:20

@SisterhoodNotCisterhood sounds fun. Did any residents join in the rave?
I sometimes wonder how the psychedelic hippie free thinkers will take to a care home generally. They might like the drugs!

Sadly no, they just looked at us like we'd grown an extra head. But they also know us really well and know we're mad as hatters so it wasn't completely unexpected.

gingercat02 · 18/12/2023 17:47

MiL is in a care home and they play 50s-70s music mainly

MrsCarson · 18/12/2023 17:57

I work in a care home and have to remind the younger staff (20's) that the music the residents listened to was Elvis, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc. Vera Lynn was their parents music. They seem shocked. Most seem to know all the words to Abba songs too.