Choir performs at shopping centre

Peninsula Village celebrated the NSW Government's "Seniors Festival" with a week of resident activities from March 3 to 12 and a public performance at a local shopping centre on Friday, March 10.

The Peninsula Village choir sang a number of classic songs and tunes as well as one of their own at Deepwater Plaza.

"We feel like we celebrate seniors all year round, but were pleased to mark the annual Seniors Festival with a fantastic live performance from our singing group," said Peninsula Villages chief executive officer Mr Shane Neaves.

"We now have 17 members in the singing group that includes both residents and a number of volunteers who thoroughly enjoy the company of each other and the joy that singing together brings to them and others whom they perform to," Mr Neaves said.

"The 2017 Seniors Festival theme was 'Let's do more together' and I believe this special singing performance and our seniors' activities this week reinforced the value of togetherness.

"We have also seen great benefit in offering music-based activities and programs within our residential aged care facilities as a way of promoting positive wellbeing, improved brain functionality and a sense of social support," he said.

"There is a wealth of evidence to demonstrate the value of music therapy in aged care, in particular for those with cognitive difficulties, neurological damage or disease, depression and stress related illness, as well as locals within palliative care.

"Singing provides many benefits for older aged locals.

"Ongoing research has shown that regular singing can lift your spirits, increase your immunity and provide a workout for your brain and your lungs and these benefits are even more significant for those experiencing mild to moderate memory loss.

"We offer a range of music and singing activities as part of our resident programs and are now also exploring a dedicated music therapy program that will be part of Peninsula Villages additional services offered to residents in 2017," said Mr Neaves.

Media release, 10 Mar 2017

Katey Small, Brilliant Logic