Bartlett’s Care Home, but make it Taylor’s Version
A number ‘senior swifties’ based in a care home in Aylesbury have re-created their favourite Taylor Swift covers in anticipation of the UK Eras Tour.
Previous studies have found that listening to music can help reduce anxiety, blood pressure and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness and memory. However, you don’t have to take researchers word for how well music can improve people’s health as residents at Bartlett’s Care Home have recently united over their love for Taylor Swift.
Working in partnership with Lottie, a free service that helps patients find the best care homes for them, five residents, otherwise known as Carol, Janet, Elizabeth, Jill and Beryl, have re-created their favourite Taylor Swift album covers and expressed how much joy the experience gave them.
Images of the residents’ creations can be found below.
Carol, 80-years-old, recreated the album cover for Midnight, which originally came out in October 2022. Carol is known as Bartlett’s biggest Taylor Swift fan as she particularly loves her sparkly Eras Tour costumes.
Carol said: ‘I wish I could wear outfits like Taylor Swift every day.’
Next, Janet, 79-years-old, recreated the album cover for Lover, which was released in August 2019. Janet remarked she particularly enjoyed wearing sparkly love hearts on her face, which she kept on even after the shoot was over.
‘I’ve loved being pampered,’ Janet said. ‘It’s been such a great day to watch everyone pick a photo to recreate.’
Fast forward four years and Taylor Swift released her second-ever ‘Taylor’s Version’ album which was Speak Now – the record that Elizabeth, 91-years-old decided to re-create.
Following then theme of Taylor’s released records, Jill, 86-years-old, picked the look of 1989.
And, last, but by no means least, Beryl, 95-years-old, decided to choose Red (Taylor’s Version), which came out in November 2021.
In addition to the photo shoot sparking a lot of delight among residents, the activity resided with Vivien on a more personal level as music has sparked fond memories for her.
Vivien said: ‘My son-in-law is the lead singer of The Boo Radleys – I have a Gold Vinyl record awarded to the group on display in my room.’
Chris Donnelly, co-founder of Lottie who organised the event for the residents, has expressed how proud he is of his work.
‘Partnering with Bartlett’s Residential Care Home has been great to host this activity. Our vision behind the Senior Swifties project was to debunk common misconceptions of care through music and show everyone that care homes can be the start of a new and fulfilling chapter in life,’ Chris said. ‘We’re so pleased to have brought the Eras Tour to the extraordinary ladies at Bartlett’s Care Home. Music has many health and wellbeing benefits, especially for those with dementia or in a care setting. Listening and engaging with music can help someone living with dementia communicate, stay connected to others, and spark memories of joy and happiness.’
Chris added: ‘Many care homes across the country provide music therapy, and we’re so proud we’ve added a new twist to this popular activity by bringing different generations together to celebrate the power of music.’
Images: Bartlett Care Home/Lottie
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