Danish Care Center's Musical Garden Boosts Community Engagement

The Trollemose Senior Care Centre in Svendborg, Denmark is thrilled with the new outdoor musical instruments in their garden. Initially, the Care Centre wanted something new and interesting for the residents to enjoy in the garden. This led them to discover outdoor musical instruments.

Agnete Bille, the Section Manager at Trollemose Care Centre, expressed that these musical instruments have a special appeal that attracts people to them. The Care Centre, with the assistance of the Trollevenner Voluntary Association, acquired two outdoor xylophones and a drum from Percussion Play, Denmark. These instruments were strategically placed to be visible from the public path leading to the garden, allowing not only the residents but also neighbors and passers-by to engage with them. Agnete explained that the outdoor musical instruments serve as a focal point for bringing people together.

The care center's closest neighbor, Poppellunden Nursery, and other nearby nurseries' children frequently visit to play the new outdoor musical instruments. Agnete described the magical interaction between the children and the elderly, as the older residents instinctively assist and engage with the children when they play the instruments.

Agnete also highlighted that the outdoor musical instruments have become an integral part of the daily life at the care center, used by both the residents and visitors. The introduction of these instruments has not only helped prevent loneliness but has also led to unexpected benefits such as residents' increased engagement, improved communication, and the use of the instruments in rehabilitation work at the care center. Agnete concluded that the instruments have had an incredibly positive impact, going beyond their initial purpose of preventing loneliness.