Key Takeaways
- Live entertainment in aged care facilities is essential for residents’ health and wellbeing, and can trigger memories and encourage socialization.
- Funding for live performances in aged care residences has diminished post-COVID, reducing opportunities for human connection.
- Aged care providers have the discretion to allocate their budget for lifestyle activities, including live entertainment, but there is no specific data collected on funds allocated to live entertainment.
- Immersive reality is being used in aged care facilities, but it should not replace live entertainment, which offers a unique and valuable experience for residents.
- Live performances can be adapted to suit and support residents, and are particularly beneficial for those with dementia.
Introduction to Live Entertainment in Aged Care
At 95, Corry Ogyden has fond memories of attending bands when she was younger. These days, Ms. Ogyden, a resident at an assisted living facility in Carnegie, Victoria, hangs with a less rowdy crowd. However, she appreciates live entertainment nonetheless. "I’ve been to many live bands over the years, including the big stage shows like AC/DC," she said. "It’s very important to have live performers visit us each week, it triggers memories." Live entertainment is not only a source of enjoyment for Ms. Ogyden, but it also plays a crucial role in her health and wellbeing, encouraging socialization and providing a sense of community.
The Importance of Live Entertainment
A performer and advocate for older Australians wants to ensure live entertainment continues to be central to leisure activities for aged care residents and is not replaced with more passive forms of entertainment. Ventriloquist Natalie May from Albion Park, NSW, has concerns that funding for live performances in aged care residences has diminished, reducing opportunities for the human connection they offer. Ms. May believes live performances are life-changing for residents, and budgets should be allocated to pay performers before the service disappears. "Residents love the old-school ventriloquism and singing, but nursing homes aren’t allocating funding for live entertainment," she said. The benefits of live entertainment are numerous, and it is essential to recognize its value in the lives of aged care residents.
Funding for Live Entertainment
Although aged care providers include their budget allocation for lifestyle activities in reports to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, data is not collected on funds allocated specifically to live entertainment. A department spokesperson said the Australian National Aged Care Classification funding model includes money for entertainment, but it is up to providers to determine how they allocate their funding. The new Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025 require aged care providers to consult residents and families for feedback on recreational activities, which may include live entertainment. However, there is no guarantee that live entertainment will be prioritized, and it is up to individual providers to allocate their budget accordingly.
The Role of Technology in Aged Care
Immersive reality is helping aged care residents in both rehabilitation and recreational ways, but Chris Grice, National Seniors Australia chief executive, is worried live entertainment in nursing homes could become a thing of the past. While virtual reality can provide a unique and engaging experience, it should not replace live entertainment, which offers a human connection that is essential for residents’ health and wellbeing. "From a clinical perspective, live performance helps in terms of folks suffering from dementia, it’s in the moment and can be adapted to the audience," Mr. Grice said. The use of technology in aged care facilities should be seen as a supplement to live entertainment, rather than a replacement.
Preventing Loneliness and Isolation
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing spokesperson said residents must have access to varied recreational activities that were aimed at preventing loneliness and boredom. Lifeview aged care facility, where Ms. Ogyden lives, takes this to heart, with Friday afternoon entertainment being a highlight of the week for the 200 residents. The centre’s events manager, Annitta Macauley, said human connection was essential, and live entertainment played a vital role in providing this. "Happy Hour is the one activity that pretty much every resident attends because it’s live entertainment and putting a VR helmet on doesn’t cut it, there’s no human touch," she said. By prioritizing live entertainment, aged care facilities can help prevent loneliness and isolation, and provide a sense of community and connection for their residents.
Conclusion
Live entertainment in aged care facilities is essential for residents’ health and wellbeing, and can trigger memories and encourage socialization. While funding for live performances has diminished post-COVID, it is crucial that aged care providers prioritize live entertainment and allocate their budget accordingly. The use of technology, such as immersive reality, can be a valuable supplement to live entertainment, but it should not replace the human connection that live performances provide. By recognizing the importance of live entertainment and prioritizing it, aged care facilities can help prevent loneliness and isolation, and provide a sense of community and connection for their residents. As Ms. Ogyden said, "I’ve been to many live bands over the years, and it’s very important to have live performers visit us each week, it triggers memories." Live entertainment is a vital part of the lives of aged care residents, and it is essential that it continues to be prioritized and supported.
