Breaking Boredom with Elaine
Activities for Seniors
How did “Breaking Boredom With Elaine” come to life? The answer is quite simple.
Playing piano for Seniors has been an important part of my life since age thirteen. I was raised north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in Hermitage. A sweet lady we knew through friends heard I played the piano. And little did I know, my journey began with our precious Senior Citizens. I started playing once a month at the “The Golden Agers” meetings and I was hooked.
I loved playing songs they rarely hear and loved seeing those smiles. I cannot tell you how many of those precious folks have told me how much they love the songs that brought back their beautiful memories. I knew I had to MAKE THE TIME to go and play those songs for them. It didn’t take long for this to become a passion that has grown over the years for me.
No matter how my career evolved since age thirteen, I always made time to play in Senior Communities. The joy it has added to MY life is priceless. The financial gain for me was minimal, as Communities have small and limited budgets for activities. I wasn’t doing this for the money – it was for the joy those songs bring them.
Monthly drawing for me to come to your facility!
Then Covid hits us and activities came to an abrupt halt. It’s been an expensive journey for Communities with screening expenses and heart-breaking for Residents. And I understand it firsthand.
I am the daughter of a mother who moved to a Community to be with people. She gave up her home of 60 years because she was weary of eating alone, spending long afternoons and evenings alone. She wanted activity. She yearned to be BUSY. Boredom and isolation were wearing on her and was affecting her health.
Covid has been tough. Tough for Leadership and tough for Residents. It brought new restrictions, quarantines, isolations, masks and not allowing Entertainers to come into the facilities to entertain them.
My own mother was back to being alone AGAIN and little to do to keep her busy. I was concerned, since emotional health is directly linked to physical health. I started making her videos of the music she loved. She was thrilled! She couldn’t WAIT for me to send her videos and if I was even a little delayed, she’d call me – did you send me a video????
I could hear a change in her voice. I could “see” a smile of her face. Her whole attitude changed. She looked forward to the music. She’d share with me a memory from a certain song she and my late Dad loved. I knew this was the answer. I knew music had the power to transform a lonely, bored Senior into a vibrant Senior, who now had hope and expectation!
Music has been my life. My training has included Bachelor’s Work at Youngstown State University, Dana School of Music and University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music.
I have performed on BB Riverboats in Newport, KY (Cincy), The Empress of The North (Portland, OR) and The American Queen (The Delta Queen Steamboat Co), New Orleans, LA, to name just a few places where I could share my gift of music.
The music your Seniors will enjoy includes everything – popular Classical, Ragtime, Oldies, Standards. Musicals, Broadway and lots of Sing-A-Long favorites. It contains years and years of the “most requested” songs – songs they love from as early as 1760 to present beloved songs.
Billy Joel said it best; “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”
People do love music. It does have an amazing ability to heal and lift us up. And think about what Buddha said. He is spot on and I live my life with his words in my heart.
Yes, Breaking Boredom WILL dramatically save you money. Yes it will and that is key. And to put “the icing on the cake”, it will have an impact on your Community that is beyond measure. Join me. Transform your business and your Residents. Let’s do something amazing!
