Vintage Voices

Vintage Voices aims to improve the mental health and quality of life for elderly living in long-term care facilities through the power of music. With an increasing aging population long-term care communities are experiencing an increase in residents. With physical health as the priority for caregivers, senior residents may miss out on activities to stimulate their mental and emotional health and wellbeing and improve their quality of life. Music has been shown to provide a positive outlet for stimulation, relaxation, reminiscence, and socialization and helps make meaningful connections. Vintage Voices partnered with 7 senior living communities in the College Park area and hosted sing-along performances featuring music from resident’s youth, like What a Wonderful World and Bugle Boy, and spent time with residents. Between rehearsals, performing, and visiting with the residents, Vintage Voices logged 546 volunteer hours this year alone. After these performances, residents showed an improvement in mood, memory for distant events, sociability and activity level. To further their reach and impact, Vintage Voices held fundraising events to raise money for iPods for residents, so they can continue to listen to their favorite music after performances. In addition, the group held “GeriTalks” to educate and engage more than 200 college students.