Alan takes part in Movement to Music, a group that supports people who have had a stroke by helping to improve their mood and mobility. It’s led by Anwen at Rubicon Dance in Wales, who we partner with to share live music in care homes and day centres. Donna, Stroke Communications Support Coordinator at The Stroke Association Wales, supports Alan. On a video call, we spoke to Alan, Anwen and Donna about the group moving online.
The live music was really uplifting and engaging. It was so nice to see everybody smiling and joining in. People have said that they are going to continue to come every week.
Alan: “Lockdown was awful. I was unable to see family and meet with neighbours. It was difficult to be motivated to get myself going. If I didn’t wash the dishes, nobody was going to see it. That was the mood to begin with. Slowly, I got to doing things. Movement to Music made me move and it gave me an interest. When we get back to what everybody’s calling ‘normal’, mine will be a different normal. Hopefully it will be a more active normal because I’ve been able to prove to myself that I can do things and it’s encouraged me to do more.”
Donna: “Today’s session was the first live Movement to Music session and the feedback I had immediately after it was great. Having live music was really uplifting and engaging. It was so nice to see everybody smiling and joining in. People who hadn’t joined in previous sessions, who were encouraged to come along for the live one, have said that they are going to continue to come every week.”
Anwen: “It was amazing to have live music today. It just added an extra ‘oomph’ to the class. People who normally would not join in were doing so and everybody loved it. It gave an extra emphasis to the class.”
Alan: “It felt more like a combined ‘live’ performance, live by us as well as the performers.”
Anwen: That’s what’s so great about music. Alan couldn’t move because he had an operation, but he was still part of the group. Still listening, still singing along. It’s still engagement. So even if somebody’s movement range is so tiny, music just brings everybody together. It’s just so uplifting.”
Alan: “Music has been as helpful to me as my medication.”