Musical Armchair Travels

Training and session toolkit combined

Musical Armchair Travels is a unique resource combining facilitator training with age-appropriate music and practical session guidelines.

1.  A training DVD (48 minutes runtime) for staff which includes:

  • Commentary from leading experts in the field of dementia care and creative expressive therapeutic leisure practice.
  • Step by step guide to:
    • Assessing the needs and preferences of the participants
    • Planning the ‘Armchair Travel’ program to suit those needs and preferences
    • Conducting the ‘Armchair Travel’ program
    • Evaluating the outcome to ensure quality and relevance of future ‘Armchair Travel’ programs.
  • Presenters:
    • Colette Baya – Activities Coordinator. Armchair Travels Program Developer Discover the philosophy behind the Musical Armchair Travels program and watch Colette as she takes you step by step through a full Musical Armchair Travels session.
    • Professor Henry Brodaty – Scientia Professor of Ageing and Mental
      Health, University of NSW. Find out what research says about the benefits of music for sufferers of dementia.
    • Dr Heather Hill – Dementia-care Consultant. Discover how music can move people outside the limitations of the nursing home environment and influence their social and emotional atmosphere.
    • Ruth Wilson – Diversional Therapist. Learn the four steps of successful documentation. These steps will help you show compliance, evaluate the effectiveness of your Musical Armchair Travels program and improve your practice.
    • Michael Mildren – Music Practitioner. Learn why including age-appropriate music in your repertoire of activities is so important.

2.  A set of 6 Armchair Travel sessions based on music (Six music CDs)

  • The music on these six CDs will provide countless hours of accompaniment for the Musical Armchair Travels journeys.
  • Each presenting music based guidelines focusing on a chosen and popular musical destination.
  • All tracks have been carefully chosen and arranged to engage but not agitate or disturb participants.
  • The songs are short and each one will help set the scene for a different musical destination.
  • While the tracks are not designed for sing-alongs, some participants may want to sing along. The main goal of the music, however, is to evoke fond memories and discussion of travel experiences.