The Welsh Harpist and The Singer

We had a surprising and enjoyable experience yesterday.  When we arrived at the nursing home  to visit mum we were told that a concert was about to start.
We were therefore invited to sit in to listen to the Welsh Harpist accompanied by a singer.  Well, what a treat that turned out to be.  We had seats at the end of the row of wheelchairs and were overwhelmed and captivated by the experience.
The singer was wonderful.  She did everything possible to involve the residents in the experience and many of them, who appeared shut down to all intents and purposes joined in by singing along to the more well known songs or shaking their tambourines to those they were less sure of.  They also participated in the musical quiz and, again, residents who now had limited communication skills as a result of having experienced strokes, were able to answer some very obscure questions about the music they were listening to.
I know nursing homes have had a very bad press recently but when effectively managed they make such a difference to their residents in the last years of their lives.
Whilst I would rather that mum had not had her stroke, I think that in many ways her quality of life is now better in the nursing home than it was in the last years of living alone in her own home.  She has been recognised and valued for her poetry writing and reading skills.  She watches films in the cinema room and joins in the many activities that take place most afternoons.  In the last years of living alone, she spent a lot of time eating bad food and watching television.
Both Ken and I felt really emotional at the last song "I dreamed a dream".