Volunteer Spotlight - Claudine
April 16 to 22 is National Volunteer Week - a time to celebrate the 24 million wonderful volunteers across Canada! This year’s theme is “volunteering weaves us together” to represent the importance of volunteers to strengthen the fabric of our communities.
Green Acres Foundation would like to thank all our volunteers who donate their time to create a more enriching community for our senior residents. These volunteers help with everything from bingo to sewing repairs on clothes. If you are inspired to volunteer with us, check out our volunteer page on our website!
Meet our Volunteer, Claudine
It’s always special when a volunteer can share their expertise with our residents, and that is exactly what our volunteer, Claudine, has done. Since January 2023 Claudine has facilitated laughter yoga as well as drumming circles at the lodge dear to her heart. She is a bright personality and enjoys meeting and greeting the residents in the lodge.
“My days were filled with care, and I thought I’d like to spread the joy! When I visit, I really appreciate each person and I find that I’m always greeting the people. We have this connection. I like to spread love and joy and it’s just a little way of doing that to come in and say hi or wave at them. It spreads a little love and light in their life.”
Claudine graduated as a teacher in 1979 and founded Hemel House Child Care Services in 1982. She trained in facilitating drum circles and used this expertise to provide support for child care providers. While volunteering at the lodge she was met with new challenges. “I was used to working with children and it is so different working with seniors. Children are always moving and creating, and I found with the seniors it was harder to get them out of their shell. I also had to slow down, myself.”
Drum Circles
A drum circle is a gathering to make music with percussive instruments. Claudine explains it as, “it is not teaching them how to play the drum. It is opening an opportunity to be creative, be in a group, be together and just explore what it’s like to drum.” Drumming is a universal language as well as an irresistible, involuntary response to communicate. “Drumming is a part of us. We’ve got the heartbeat, we’ve got our steps, and our rhythm of eating. Some people have not drummed in their whole lives, so they kind of discover what they’re capable of doing.”
These circles are a very inclusive activity – opening this experience to all levels of care in the lodge adds to a sense of community. “We had people in wheelchairs, people from the dementia unit, and others participate in the program at the lodge. There was quite a variety but they all drum at their own ability. They pick their own instruments, so they drum with what they are comfortable with.” Claudine has accumulated a large collection of percussive instruments throughout the years including shakers, wood blocks, and a very wide variety of drums.
Health Benefits of Drum Circles
Activities like drum circles make a very meaningful impact on the residents both psychologically and physically. There are many health benefits which can contribute to overall happiness and health.
Physical
Drumming requires different gripping techniques, posture, and working muscles in the upper body. This can be great exercise and improve mobility, balance, and coordination. Studies have shown that drumming can reduce inflammation and improves the immune system to fight diseases. Participating in drum circles have the potential to improve heart health not only through exercise but even listening to music can lower blood pressure.
Cognitive Function
Drumming is a form of communication allowing participants who might have difficulty with other forms of communication to be understood. Memory, hand-eye coordination, and focus are all exercised during this activity. When facilitating drum circles, Claudine plays games with the participants such as drumming to syllables of words. In another game, Claudine will play a beat that participants remember and repeat back.
Emotional and Mental Health
Music can be medicine for the brain, stimulating neurotransmitters, endorphins, hormones, and decreasing depression. This promotes positive energy, mindfulness, stress relief, and playfulness. Since drum circles are group based, it encourages communication, community, and inclusivity. These circles can also provide a safe space to channel feelings in physical form and self expression. As Claudine explains, “it gets them to be creative and not just always receiving. A lot of the people [seniors] do a lot of sitting and listening to people entertaining them, but it’s wonderful to have them produce something, to create something, and that’s wonderful in a drum circle.” There are also studies that confirm that participants feel a sense of accomplishment and reward after engaging in these sessions.
“Music is amazing. When I feel down, I turn music on that makes me happy and it really changes my mood. It works with everybody.”
Volunteer With Us!
Claudine is a great example of how volunteering with our individual strengths can make a positive impact in other’s lives. We are so grateful to our volunteers! If you are inspired to do so, check out our volunteer page on our website, chat with the lodge that you would like to volunteer at, or call our administration office to learn more: 403-328-1155.
Green Acres Foundation volunteers perform many duties including, but not limited to, helping on bus trips, calling bingo, facilitating games, and helping with movie nights. One-on-one opportunities for reading programs are also available. A clear criminal record check and proof of vaccination is required. We are especially looking for volunteers to help our senior residents with technology and accessing our online surveys.
References:
The Effect of Classical Music on Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Mood
Effects of Group Drumming Interventions on Anxiety, Depression, Social Resilience and Inflammatory Immune Response among Mental Health Service Users
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0151136
Music Training Improves Depressed Mood Symptoms in Elderly People: A Random Controlled Trial https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0091415019893988?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
Promoting well-being through group drumming with mental health service users and their carers
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482631.2018.1484219
Music for Mood & Memory – The Benefits of Music for Older People Living With Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
https://www.percussionplay.com/music-for-mood-and-memory/
How Learning Drum can Improve Your Health and Wellbeing
https://www.jimdonovantrainings.com/blog/how-learning-to-drum-can-improve-your-health-and-wellbeing