Just before Easter, music therapist Clare Reynolds returned to Abbeyfields Care Home in Ballachulish, where she delivered an introductory training project to staff working with elderly people last year. Clare writes:

“I spent a great day back down in Abbeyfield as part of a Music As Therapy Follow up visit from the 6 week project I delivered in September/October 2017. I was delighted to see Bev still running an individual session with Sylvia; Jessie running his day care group and Bev also taking her afternoon session in the downstairs social area where she had 15 residents engaged in singing and playing instruments. As well as experiencing these sessions today I had an opportunity for some discussion with Bev, Jesse and Kate as to what they felt was working well and what was perhaps not working so well. I also had a shorter informal chat with the management team.

I was impressed to see the sessions very much embedded in the resident’s weekly activities. I was also delighted that management seem very aware of what is happening and continue to support the project wholeheartedly. Perhaps the highlight for me though is to see the way in which the staff have taken on board their training, developed it, made it their own and are continuing to share and pass on their skills to their residents.”