Mary’s Story

Mary is 79 and has been a resident at Grange Care Home in Kilmarnock, Scotland, for two years. She takes part in all of the activities organised by Derek, Lifestyle Coordinator at the care home, and has a particular fondness for music. We spoke to Mary and Derek on a video call about their online live music with Music in Hospitals & Care musician Neil Sturgeon.

We haven’t had live music for months. So to have a Music in Hospitals & Care musician come in and actually interact directly with residents – asking what songs they would like to hear – it was almost like a wee touch to the outside world again.

 

Mary: “I have missed not seeing family and friends because of the pandemic. But we keep saying to each other ‘You know, it’s going to lift and our families can come back in’. I miss my shopping. I’m a shopaholic! That’s been very hard.

I’ve always loved music. My mother loved music too, she played the accordion. I got one and had lessons, then my sister did. We were like a three-piece band. It was marvellous.”

Derek: “The residents love to hear different music. We were doing exercise to ABBA this morning. Last week, they were all up when I had I had Status Quo on.

We haven’t had live music for months. Everything we have been doing is just on the TV or videos. That type of thing. So, to have Music in Hospitals & Care musician Neil actually interact directly with residents – asking what songs they would like to hear – it was almost like a wee touch to the outside world again. It made you feel a bit more hopeful afterwards.”

Mary: I felt happy after the session with Neil because it made you feel a wee bit more alive. He came on with his guitar and it was wonderful. We were singing and dancing which was brilliant. We all went to bed happy. Even Sheena and Margaret were singing, and they’re about 90-odd! It was marvellous. I couldn’t say enough about it.”

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