After attending a Chime work shop facilitated by Carmel Daveson, President, Handbell Society of Australasia and organised by Tyrrell McGeever of the Dromana Rotary Club of Victoria, Ros Coughran-Lane & Margaret Zani (diversional therapists from SomerCare Aged Care Resort) were excited about using chimes to enhance the quality of life of aged people.

Ros and Margaret saw that the chimes provided a different challenge for both diversional therapist and residents of Aged Care facilities.  It was something that had not been done, to their knowledge, in any aged care facility in Victoria.  It was an initiative which could challenge the residents cognitive and fine motor skills and increase their self esteem and give them a sense of pride.

Ros and Margaret set about implementing a chime programme.  They saw that it gave the residents a sense of coming together, a feeling of belonging, providing laughter therapy; involvement in the community; and  a sense of welling and reminiscing as they played the music.

Intellectually it stimulates the residents’ concentration and promotes their wellbeing and encourages participation. The residents are eager to attend practice session's and are becoming more confident at playing concerts physically maintaining their fine motor skills.  There is positive feed back from the residents that they enjoy this activity because they feel included and involved.

Although the programme is very new, the residents have played at several events in Victoria: a work shop in Warrigal for the Handbell Society; a tea dance at Mornington for seniors week; at a day centre at Mt Eliza also at their own Christmas concert.  They already have five further bookings for 2009.

Written by: Ros Coughran-Lane email: euphoniumau@yahoo.com.au

Contact for the Dromana Rotary Club: Tyrrell McGeever, email: tyrrellmcg@gmail.com

Workshop presenter: Carmel Daveson, President HSA, email carmel@wackado.com.au