Level 1:
Loneliness is a big problem in care homes. But some people have found a solution. They use African church choirs. The choirs sing to the care home residents. When they hear the music, they feel happy. They stand up and dance with the choir members. This makes the staff at the care home very happy too. The music helps everyone feel connected. It brings people of different ages and backgrounds together.
Level 2:
Loneliness is a growing problem in care homes, but some have found a heartwarming solution in the form of African church choirs. These choirs, led by Dr Kayonda Hubert Ngamaba, sing an eclectic mix of traditional African songs, English and French hymns, and hypnotic chants to the elderly residents. The music acts as a salve, bringing joy and happiness to their lives, and helping them feel connected and purposeful. Not only do the programs enrich the residents’ lives, they also promote cultural understanding and respect between different communities. By creating a sense of belonging through music, these programs offer a low-cost solution to one of the biggest problems facing care homes in England today.
Full Story:
Loneliness is a growing epidemic in care homes across England. It’s a problem that can lead to depression, anxiety, and even physical decline. While there are many solutions to this problem, one low-cost solution that has proven successful is the use of African church choirs.
Psychologist, pastor, and refugee Dr Kayonda Hubert Ngamaba leads Bolton’s Ephrata Community Church, which serves as a hub for the African diaspora across the northwest of England, particularly Congolese. The church choir’s repertoire includes French and English hymns, traditional African songs performed in Lingala, and hypnotic chants. Dr Ngamaba prescribed a monthly dose of music to local care homes, resulting in heartwarming results.
”When the choir started dancing, we saw residents standing up and joining in,” said Ngamaba. “The staff were amazed – these were residents who usually just sat in their bedrooms. The sense of joy was amazing.”
The success of the church choir has inspired other African communities to start their own programs. For example, the Congolese Association of Newcastle upon Tyne has set up a similar program that brings together community members and care home residents alike.
The benefits of these programs are numerous. For one, they provide a sense of purpose and belonging to the elderly residents. They also offer them an opportunity to connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds, which can be mentally stimulating and enriching. Additionally, they help break down cultural barriers and promote understanding and respect between different communities.
But it’s not just the residents who benefit from these programs. The choirs themselves gain a sense of fulfillment and pride from sharing their musical talents with others. It creates a sense of community within the church and the wider community, bringing together people of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Of course, it’s important to note that not all care home residents will respond to these programs in the same way. Some may be more withdrawn or have difficulty with communication. But for many, the music provides a welcome distraction from their everyday routines and an opportunity to socialize and connect.
If you’re interested in setting up a similar program at your local care home, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it’s important to ensure that the choir is diverse and inclusive, representing different cultures and backgrounds. It’s also important to have a clear plan in place for each session, including what songs will be performed and how the choir will interact with the residents. Lastly, it’s important to seek input from both the residents and the care home staff to ensure that everyone’s needs are being met.
African church choirs provide a low-cost solution to loneliness in English care homes. They offer a range of benefits to both the residents and the community, promoting understanding and respect between different cultures and backgrounds. While they may not be the right solution for everyone, they offer a sense of purpose and belonging to many care home residents and help break down cultural barriers.
Questions:
What is the main problem facing care homes in England?
How do African church choirs help combat loneliness in care homes?
Why is it important for the choirs to have a diverse and inclusive membership?
Do you think music is an effective solution to loneliness in care homes? Why or why not?
In your opinion, what are some other ways that care homes could address the issue of loneliness among their residents?
Fill in the Blanks:
epidemic, withdrawn, prescribed, inclusive, diaspora, repertoire, Lingala, heartwarming, salve
Loneliness is a growing ________ in care homes across England.
Psychologist, pastor, and refugee Dr Kayonda Hubert Ngamaba leads Bolton’s Ephrata Community Church, which serves as a hub for the African ________ across the northwest of England, particularly Congolese.
The church choir’s ________ includes French and English hymns, traditional African songs performed in ________, and hypnotic chants.
Dr Ngamaba ________ a monthly dose of music to local care homes, resulting in ________ results.
Some may be more ________ or have difficulty with communication.
Firstly, it’s important to ensure that the choir is diverse and ________, representing different cultures and backgrounds.
The music acts as a ________, bringing joy and happiness to their lives, and helping them feel connected and purposeful.
Vocabulary:
epidemic: a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
salve: a soothing ointment or balm applied to heal a sore or injured part of the body.
low-cost: inexpensive or affordable.
diaspora: the dispersion of people from their original homeland.
repertoire: a stock of plays, dances, or pieces that a company or a performer knows or is prepared to perform.
Lingala: a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.
prescribed: recommend or authorize (a course of medical treatment or remedy).
heartwarming: causing feelings of happiness and pleasure.
culturally enriching: providing intellectual or moral enlightenment or education, especially through exposure to different cultures and ways of life.
withdrawn: socially detached or unresponsive; introverted.
inclusive: including all the services or items normally expected or required.
seek input: ask for information or advice from others.
