ADDITIONAL funding has been provided to a project that enables professionally trained musicians perform for the patients and residents of hospitals and healthcare setting across Limerick, Clare and Tipperary.
The ‘Musicians-On-Call’ initiative provides a music sharing experience for older residents and healthcare staff in nursing homes and community hospitals. It puts the residents’ interests and choice at the heart of music making, by connecting closely with the setting before each visit.
The project is led by Limerick City and County Council Arts Office in collaboration with Age Friendly Limerick and Healthy Limerick. It is delivered in partnership with Artistic Partner Music and Health Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Clare and Tipperary County Councils and funded by Creative Ireland Creativity in Older Age.
The programme will deliver a series of on-site visits to St Ita’s Community Nursing Unit in Newcastle West; St Camillus’ Hospital in Limerick City; Ennistymon Community Nursing Unit; Regina House in Kilrush; St Conlon’s Community Nursing Unit in Nenagh and the Community Hospital of the Assumption in Thurles.
The programme aims to bring high-quality live music to vulnerable older people as a shared social experience.
It also aims to provide introductory Music in Healthcare Workshops to HSE staff to raise awareness of how to support the needs of residents in music activities.
Arts Officer Dr Pippa Little said that creativity and wellbeing are at the heart of this programme, offering moments of joy and engagement.
“The funding secured from the Creativity in Older Age programme has made the expansion of this programme possible across Limerick, Clare and Tipperary,” she added.
