This article was written by Chelsea Mao and is part of a series provided by upper year Health Sciences students at McMaster University. I have always been infatuated with music. Playing piano and flute, albeit it was my mom who made me play these instruments, since I was nine, has helped me develop patience and passion. These days, it’s my bass guitar that I turn to when life feels overwhelming. There’s something grounding about its low, steady rhythms that feels almost meditative. Music has become my go-to stress reliever, a way to unplug from the chaos and reconnect with myself. Through years of practice, I didn’t just learn notes and scales—I learned patience, discipline, and the quiet joy of creative expression. Music has always been an instrument of comfort for me, and I believe many others can relate. With easy access to technology, music is always within reach, serving as a tool for mental well-being. Music is more than something we listen to while driving or showering, it’s powerful in the way it can shape how we feel, move, think, and connect. But what is it about music that can move us in such an impactful way? It ranges from rhythm to social connectivity, with s cience deeply rooted in its influence on our wellbeing . With my experience with music, I wanted to see what it is about music that helps with one’s quality of life. Tonality plays a crucial role in shaping our emotional responses to music. It encompasses harmony, melody, timbre, and tones in speech and sound. The Vocal Similarity Theory suggests that our experience with tones shapes how we perceive and process music. Music therapists and musicians have intuitively used tonality to modulate emotions, aligning with scientific findings on how specific tonal qualities impact mood. I personally love listening to lively music when I’m with my friends, or listening to classical music when I need to calm any nerves I have with school. Rhythm is another vital element that influences our sensory and motor functions. Neural Resonance Theory suggests that rhythm plays a role in improving sensory and motor functions in music therapy. Rhythmic music has historically transformed labour-intensive work into more bearable experiences. The biological foundations of rhythm offer insights into how music can address challenges in mood, cognition, and motivation. Reward mechanisms in the brain are strongly linked to music. Listening to music activates the brain’s reward system , releasing dopamine and fostering pleasure, motivation, and emotional regulation. This activation explains why music can be deeply satisfying and even addictive in some cases. The way music stimulates the brain’s reward system contributes to its effectiveness in alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. After I finish a test, I usually grab my bass and start jamming to my favourite songs. It’s my go-to stress reliever! As soon as I start playing, I slip into a flow state, letting my fingers follow the vibe and my emotions lead the rhythm. It feels extremely freeing. Sociality is another core aspect of music’s impact. Music strengthens bonds, enhances group cohesion, and provides a means of expression beyond language. Since music is inherently social, it has been used across cultures to bring people together, from communal singing to shared musical experiences. This social component of music further supports its therapeutic applications, as engaging in music-making with others fosters a sense of belonging and emotional connection. For my family events, we would often play classic, nostalgic Chinese music, and it’s a beautiful way for all of us to connect emotionally. Incorporating music into our everyday lives is more than just a way to pass time, it’s a practice that positively impacts emotional well-being, strengthens social bonds, and enhances cognitive and sensory functions. From its ability to ground us in moments of stress to its role in fostering connections, music is a unique and accessible tool that aligns with our biological, emotional, and social needs. By embracing music intentionally, we create a form of joy and happiness that can enhance the quality of our lives.

MUSIC CARE Certification inspired me to attend University and continue my exploration of Arts and Cultural Management and the use of music. Learning about the history of music, performing arts management, and the business of engaging in the arts and the non-profit sector has been very helpful with respect to expanding on the things that I learned, both in my life and with Room 217. My first call to Room 217 to sign up for training in a town four hours away was one of the best calls I ever made. Since then, my life has changed considerably; the pandemic brought us all together online and eventually back in person. What a ride. I am grateful for this community, as it has enriched my life a great deal while going through a lot of grief. I have been able to share what I know with people on an ongoing basis. I observe how music moves through people's lives in a very conscious and unconscious way, and I see the benefits in a way I hadn't before. One Music care strategy I have used is collaboration and present listening with my clients to create an environment of acceptance comfort and provide a personal and customized experience. I have been experiencing the loss of my hearing in one ear recently, and this has influenced how I approach the elderly with the gradual hearing loss that they experience through the aging process. I am more aware and cognizant of their needs this way and like to experiment with instruments and music that provides a vibration that is tangible to the participant. I am always open to new information and experiences that grow my practice. I love to practice the art of community and music care. It fills me with Joy.

One important step in the process of change and change management is figuring out what roadblocks you might experience along the way. Barriers are things that interrupt the goal of lasting change, and by identifying them ahead of time, disappointment and curve balls may be mitigated. In the 3-year research project that provided the operational process and evidence behind MUSIC CARE CERTIFY , the enablers and barriers within 27 long-term care homes implementing musical integration were collected and evaluated. We found 4 key factors that became predictors of success or readiness factors. We called them factors because in some cases, the indicator was a barrier and in other cases the exact same issue, handled differently was an enabler. We call these 4 factors, predictors of success: integration, core staff, processes, and delivery. Integration refers to what it takes to incorporate music into the care setting. Strong, decisive leadership, oversight, and advocacy for music care from the top and from the music care site team leader is critical. When music is perceived as holistic, integral, fun and pleasurable, then it is a huge enabler. When musical care is valued, then there is ongoing financial investment in training and programming. Care recipients need to be involved in making decisions about what happens around music so that music is not done ‘to’ them, rather ‘with’ them. Having a certified music therapist as the site team lead, or on the music care site team is advantageous for musical and clinical expertise. Musical care coaching and mentorship through training and ongoing support through organizations like Room 217 gives caregivers the confidence to use music effectively and responsibly. Core staff means that there is a group of staff members responsible for music care delivery, and they are all using music as care. Using a relational, person-centred approach, staff is aware of care recipient needs, and knows when music is most appropriate to meet those needs. The workplace culture is predominantly a growth mindset where staff are encouraged to learn, try new things, and think outside the box. There is a drive towards continuous improvement, where evaluation is a best practice, including professional reflective practice. Staff is adaptable and can easily flex and adapt to a changing environment and care recipient needs. Processes comprise the internal operational procedures that impact music care delivery. When recruiting care recipients for music care, residents are prioritized based on their needs. Music care planning has sequential steps and determined accountabilities with resources such as physical space, technology, and musical instruments available for music care. The plans and processes are well communicated and mobilized with the team. Music care tracking and training are well in place and are regularly reported on. Delivery of music care is reflected by flexibility. Is the music care program or strategy adaptable to language for example, or group size? Having the confidence to deliver music as care does not depend necessarily on your perceived musical talent. Being confident in the process of what you are delivering is most important. When musical care is delivered with social bonding in mind, then inclusivity, whether that is about ethnicity, or socioeconomics, becomes a necessity. Frequency of music care programming or strategy may be an important indicator for success. Delivering music care with a cohesive team approach is optimal. When music is used as an agent of change, particularly as a change management system like MUSIC CARE CERTIFY , the organization benefits in a number of ways. There are business wins such as differentiation from competitors, strengthening unique sector strategies, showcasing the achievement of your team, boosting morale. There are staff gains. Staff feels supported with new learning, access to music care tools, strategies, training and ongoing support. Staff may feel more resilient by building some personal musical self-care strategies. And we’ve shown some of the measurable changes that music can help to make: improved sleep, improved appetite, greater engagement, safer transitions for example. There really is nothing more person-centred than music care. It is completely customizable. Most of all, the care experience changes – for everyone in the circle of care. Better care. Improved quality of life. Moments of joy. Empowerment. Human connection; those are the changes we need and are looking for.

Music is a catalyst for measurable change . And it can be woven into the fabric of a caring community. Care leaders have the power to make that change a reality within their organization through our MUSIC CARE CERTIFY program. Kindera Living has rolled out MUSIC CARE CERTIFY in 8 of their homes in Ontario with excellent results. Each care centre had their own unique music care site team and addressed a site challenge with music. For example, Kindera’s Dundurn Place Care Centre wanted to reduce the stress of daily care given to residents. Dundurn is in the heart of downtown Hamilton; it is multicultural, and serves 112 long-term care residents, 2 respite and 22 convalescent residents. The music care site team learned the residents’ musical preference and incorporated them into personalized playlist used during personal care sessions by the PSWs. Expressive behaviours were reduced by 78%. Cooperation during care improved and stress was reduced for both the care recipient and care giver. At Wellington Park Care Centre in downtown Burlington with 135 long-term care beds and a 16-bed restore program, the music care site team wanted to improve resident experience by creating a music-rich environment. By offering an abundance of new music programs, adding music to existing programs, and encouraging opportunities for musicking, Kindera’s Wellington Park increased monthly musical offerings by 128%. This meant music therapy hours were doubled and now, all residents have their own set of headphones. The team saw an increase in engagement, emotional responses and social interaction. At Banwell Gardens Care Centre in Windsor, a 142-bed Kindera home, the music care site team evaluated the impact of a resident chosen song on staff, when played during the honour guard. Note, when the residents dies and leaves the home through the front door, staff, residents and family gather for an honour guard. Results showed that 83% of staff feel less isolated in their grief when this ritual is performed with resident-chosen music; 94% of staff felt that the resident-chosen honour guard song helps them process grief more effectively. At Anson Place Care Centre, a 47-bed Kindera home in Hagersville, the music care site team created the ‘Sound Bites’ initiative where resident personalized playlists enhanced the dining experience and increased resident appetite by 19%. There were other benefits during mealtime as well, such as a 20% increase in social interaction with more talking, humming, singing, laughing, smiling, swaying and toe tapping. Huron Hospice in Goderich Ontario was the first hospice in Canada to become MUSIC CARE Certified. Their music care site team wanted bedside musicians and nurses at their residential hospice to observe and evaluate the effects of music on residents. By developing two observational feedback cards to record observational outcomes, hospice nurses found that 83% of residents felt calmer from live music moments offered by trained community musicians. Not only did the residents benefit from the music, there was deeper mutual appreciation and support amongst the nursing staff and volunteer musicians. Acclaim Health in the Peel and Halton regions offer adult day programs to support physical and mental well-being through independent living, reduced social isolation and innovative dementia care. At Patty’s Place and Mississauga Clubs, the music care site team used cue songs to improve client transitions in afternoon programming. By using a catchy familiar tune to encourage clients to get up and walk to the after-lunch programming, 75% of clients showed more engagement during the transition by singing, clapping or dancing. At the Burlington and Walmley clubs, personalized musical playlists were used to redirect client agitated focus towards musical engagement such as listening, singing, dancing and discussing. While these are some of the measurable changes reported through the MUSIC CARE CERTIFY process, anecdotal evidence of music’s impact was plentiful. “The stories that come out of our Men’s Musicking program are often touching and humourous which opens the door for deep emotional reminiscence and a collective appreciation of each other’s lives.” – Music care site team member, Menno Place, Abbotsford, BC “Lack of quality sleep in seniors can lead to a range of issues, including increased risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as cognitive decline, falls, weakened immune systems and mental health problems like depression and anxiety. Hawthorne Care Centre’s music care team along with PSWs, used music (15 minutes of play) prior to bedtime to improve resident sleep quality. How exciting for Hawthorne residents!” – Sandy Croley, Director of Programs and Rehabilitation, Kindera Living “Before music was introduced, he was constantly in his room and preferred to stay in bed and sleep. After Arbour Beats came in play, I noticed him coming out of his room much more often asking what programs were happening. I now notice he will start singing in his room on his own, even when music is not playing. He sits in his chair and belts out multiple songs at any time of day for a long duration. I think music sparked something in him.” – Music care site team member, Arbour Creek Care Centre, Stoney Creek, ON We honour all of the early adopters of MUSIC CARE CERTIFY , building the case for music integration as a strategic, key change in the care culture.

The role of health and social care leaders is to drive lasting change that enhances both quality of care and the experience of the care team. Implementing effective change in a care setting is complex—but it doesn't have to be daunting. MUSIC CARE CERTIFY (MCC) is a transformative solution that not only improves the well-being of care recipients, but also nurtures a culture of innovation and collaboration among staff. MCC is more than just a program—it’s a change management system. It provides a structured, step-by-step approach to implementing music as a core element of care, ultimately enhancing quality of life and supporting quality improvement across your organization. The goal of MCC is to establish, integrate and evaluate music within caring communities to achieve better care outcomes. How Does it Work? MCC is built around five quality drivers that are designed to help deliver and sustain a high standard of music care. These quality drivers ensure your organization integrates music care in a way that is sustainable, replicable, and measurable. They include: Leadership: Champions of change at every level—site team leaders, staff, and music care facilitators working together. Music-Rich Environment: Creating a space that enhances the emotional well-being of everyone through music. Professional Practice: Ensuring that music care is delivered by skilled professionals. Continuing Education: Providing ongoing training to ensure staff is prepared and confident in using music as part of their care approach. Action Research: Continuously assessing and improving the program to ensure the best care outcomes By using success criteria assigned to each quality driver, organizations can track their progress through Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels of achievement. Each level reflects the depth to which music care has been integrated into daily practices. From initial adoption (Bronze) to a fully embedded, transformative model (Gold), MCC provides clear milestones for caring communities to strive toward. Upon completing MCC certification, the caring community will be recognized as MUSIC CARE Certified. This prestigious designation signals your commitment to improving the quality of life and care for everyone within your site. The Real Benefits Change management doesn’t happen overnight—but with MCC, the benefits are clear and impactful: Staff Satisfaction: Care professionals report increased job satisfaction, resiliency, and retention. Innovative Culture: MCC fosters creative, innovative thinking, empowering care teams to explore new ways to improve care. Improved Care Outcomes: Music integration leads to better care experiences and enhances alignment with relational and person-centered approaches. A Competitive Advantage: Organizations that adopt MCC differentiate themselves, gaining a competitive edge by offering a unique, high-quality care experience.  In the next blog, we’ll dive into the stories of early adopters of MCC in Canada. The results are already speaking for themselves—MCC is changing the way care is delivered, creating a culture that values well-being, innovation, and measurable outcomes.