Cinema, Music, Memory and Wellbeing

Posted on: 12 February 2018 in Posts

In September 2017 Julia Hallam (Communications and Media), Lisa Shaw (Modern Languages and Cultures) and Sara Cohen (IPM, Music) joined forces for three Cinema, Music, Memory and Wellbeing events, which were held at the Middleton Court day centre in Speke, Liverpool, and attended by a total of 60 older people.

A musical soundtrack from the 1960s accompanied the silent footage of scenes of Liverpool life from that decade. As well as taking great delight in recognising and commenting on images of old Liverpool, the audience sang along - and even danced in some cases - with great enthusiasm, moving to the music, smiling and engaging with each other. One of the managers of the centre came up with a wonderful phrase to sum up the positive outcome of the events: "Enabling people to flourish in the Third Age".

The animated conversations and lively interaction that the film screenings prompted were captured in a short film made by Pete Carr. The positive benefits for the wellbeing of the participants in the short term is clear to see from the smiles on their faces and the laughter ringing in the air, but longer-term benefits were equally noted by the care workers involved, one of whom noted that in the weeks that followed some of the shy male members of the audience were more confident in joining in activities, such as the regular karaoke afternoon, where a lady who previously would not sing "now joins in with gusto". Another care worker commented: "Everyone continues to talk about the event and can remember different aspects of the day with positivity and fondness. They are excited and interested in what the next event will be".

Photos taken at the event of audience members in the guise of Charlie Chaplin or Carmen Miranda were turned into souvenir coasters in form of small jigsaws, so that every time they have a cuppa they can remember the fun they had on the day and share it with family and friends. The project was supported by the HOP (Happy Older People) Network of National Museums Liverpool.