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Mind & Motion

Initiative

Elderly Music Reminiscence Volunteer Team

Situation

 

Phase 1: Quantitative Screening (GDS)

  • I began by conducting a mental health screening at a local community senior centre using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). I successfully collected 20 valid responses. The data revealed that lonelinesswas the dominant issue, strongly correlating with low mood and social withdrawal.

Phase 2: Qualitative Interviews (One-on-One Conversations)

  • To dig deeper, I conducted in-depth interviews with 5 seniors from the same centre. These interviews uncovered a “Dual Dilemma” (Emotional & Physical), which the GDS alone could not capture.
Senior Profile Age & Living Status Music Preference Physical/Emotional Pain Point
Teacher 72, Lives alone Peking Opera, Revolutionary Songs Physical: Difficulty climbing stairs.
Worker 78, Not alone Shanghai Opera, Nostalgic Golden Oldies Physical: Cannot handle complex operations (smartphones).
Nurse 68, Lives alone Yue Opera, Suzhou Folk Songs Emotional: Lacks companionship from children.
Engineer 82, Not alone Military Songs, Instrumental Music Physical: Limited physical stamina.
Sales Clerk 75, Lives alone 1980s Pop Music Emotional: Has very few social activities.

Phase 3: Analysis of Existing Solutions

We also reviewed current support systems:

  1. Medication: Targets moderate/severe cases; seniors fear side effects and stigma.
  2. Counseling: Too expensive, inaccessible, and feels too heavy.
  3. General Community Activities: Lack continuity and fail to cover housebound or mobility-impaired individuals.

 

Conclusion:

  • Existing solutions are not daily, not engaging, and hard to sustain. The real long-term needs of seniors are simple: companionship, emotional connection, and being listened to.

 

 

Task

  • Based on the combined evidence (GDS & Interviews), I decided to found and lead a student‑led volunteer team that uses nostalgic music and situational reminiscenceto support elderly mental well‑being.

 

  • Primary objectives:
  1. Use “Music + Memory Awakening” to reduce loneliness and psychological defense.
  2. Design activities following 3 key principles derived from the interviews:
    • Low-Threshold: Simple chats and listening and avoid complex operations.
    • Familiarity & Safety: Use vintage objects (radios, small TVs) and a ground-floor venue.
    • Replicable: Use low-cost, community-available materials and volunteers.
  3. Recruit 8 seniors for each session and train 6 volunteers to run weekly sessions.

 

  • Activity format: Weekly 1 to 2 hour reminiscence sessions using old songs and vintage objects.

 

 

Action

Step 1: Team & Venue Setup

  • Choose to carry out the project on the first floor of the outdoor area. (Near Yangpu District Yinhang Community Sports and Health Center)
  • Arranged circular seating to promote eye contact and equal conversation.
  • Decorated with vintage radios, retro ornaments, and soft hanging lights to create a safe, familiar atmosphere.

  • Step 2: Activity Design (Based on Interview Preferences)

    • Schedule: Weekend mornings (9:00–10:30) to match their preferred time slots.
    • Playlist: Strictly Peking Opera, Yue Opera, Red Songs, and 80s pop (had an interview with them in advance to create the playlist).
    • Materials: Prepared large-print lyric sheets (font > 28pt) , soft cushions, and small percussion instruments (wind chimes, steel drums).

     

    Step 3: Weekly Session Flow

    • Opening: Introduction to the day’s theme.
    • Instrument Experience: Light interaction with chimes/drums to lower defenses.
  • Singing: Seniors volunteer to sing in front of the group, while others can chat freely and eat some snacks provided.
  • Volunteer Performance: To warm up the atmosphereand to promote intergenerational communication

  • Step 4: Data Collection during Prototype

    • Qualitative: Volunteers recorded immediate interviews and extracted high-frequency keywords (“comfortable,” “happy,” “thoughtful,” “those days”).
    • Quantitative: Used a “Smiley Face Card” (Very Happy / Happy / Neutral) instead of text scales to accommodate low literacy and poor eyesight.

  • Result

     

    Quantitative Results (N=8 regular attendees)

    • Positive Emotion Rate: 100% (all chose “Happy” or “Very Happy”).
    • High-Intensity Positive Emotion: 75% chose “Very Happy.”
    • Critical Finding: All 3 lonely/isolated seniors (living alone) chose “Very Happy”, indicating this model has special value for socially isolated groups.

     

    Qualitative Feedback (Direct Quotes)

    • “Hearing the old songs reminds me of my younger days” — Emotional awakening.
    • “Chatting with old pals while listening to music makes me feel so comfortable inside” — Social connection.
    • “The egg rolls and cakes are exactly what we like” — Small details made them feel cared for.
    • High-frequency keywords: “舒坦” (comfortable), “开心” (happy), “当年” (those days), “贴心” (thoughtful).

     

    Identified Optimizations (Lessons Learned)

    • Lyrics Issue: Seniors said, “If only we could see the lyrics, I can’t remember them, and the phone font is too small.”
      • Fix: Prepare A3 large-print lyric sheets next time.
    • Volume Issue: “Turn the music up, I’m hard of hearing and can’t hear others talking.”
      • Fix: Introduce assistive listening devices (wireless headphones) for individual hearing differences.