Audrey's Angels

Audrey's Angels enriches the lives of the elderly in small group homes through live music. The live music enrichment programs provided by Audrey's Angels gives the seniors not only a connection with a caring outside individual but also provides neural/cognitive stimulation and auxiliary health benefits, and most importantly an hour of joy and social engagement each week. Even for those with severe dementia, music can tap deep emotional recall.

Audrey's Angels enriches the lives of elderly residents in small group care homes and disabled adults in day enrichment centers through weekly live music programs. The 501 (c)(3) nonprofit was founded in 2001 by a local family that experienced first-hand the isolation and lack of interactive outside activities available to elderly residents in small care homes. Audrey's Angels' musicians, referred to as "Music Angels" deliver weekly live music programs that create outside connectivity, engagement and health benefits for the isolated seniors. Most of the residents served by the Organization in small group care homes in Maricopa County are shut-ins and all suffer from age-related cognitive and/or physical disabilities, and over 85% have no outside weekly visitors. Interaction with our "Music Angels" helps to alleviate the loneliness and isolation felt by most of the seniors we serve. In many cases it eliminates or lessens Sundowner's Syndrome and feelings of depression. Research has shown that music sessions promote wellness, help residents manage stress, alleviate pain, enhance their memory, and improve communications.   

Testimonials

"What Audrey's Angels does is more than just a pleasant hour of entertainment. It helps improve social interaction, it improves quality of life, it promotes more movement, improves emotional health. It helps organize a disorganized brain so that they can perform everyday functions that most take for granted. Most importantly it helps them reconnect with their story. Like the woman who when I sang Santa Lucia was able to tell me that her mother's name was Lucia, and her father was Italian and used to sing that song to her mother. Or my friend the concert pianist, who has evident short-term memory loss, yet can play Chopin and Debussy flawlessly and with beautiful expression. The first time I heard him play I couldn't help but feel that I had experienced something very special. What a treat it was for me to hear him play; I was the one who had been served that day." --- excerpt from article by Wendy Stapley MTBC

Read Full Article "Why Music Matters" by Wendy Stapley www.audreysangels.org