RESIDENTS of a care home have been given a new reason to sing old wartime songs ­- the Covid-19 battle.

Frances Turnbull and her team at Think Cre8tive run weekly sing-a-long sessions at many residential homes across the borough, which have now had to move online due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Homes, such as Bakewells, have had to ban all non-essential visitors from coming to the home following government advice. However, this hasn’t stopped the residents getting their entertainment fix.

Think Cre8tive describe themselves as a “social enterprise that delivers music to improve health, both physical and mental conditions".

Frances Turnbull, chief executive officer of Think Cre8tive, said: “With one musician and one clinical specialist, we are able to deliver a musically meaningful session that not only makes residents feel better, but also improves their health.

“We have been going into Bakewells for the past two years, and the care staff have often commented on the increased socialisation of the residents.

“One resident only started talking after attending one of our sessions and joining in with the old songs, which was particularly moving. Other residents that normally go back to their rooms after breakfast stay in the lounges on the days that we attend.

“After going in for a year, we were asked to go into their dementia unit, and it has been a privilege to be able to use singing to connect to the most vulnerable residents in the moment."

Although they are no longer able to go into the home and sing with the residents, they have had a good response to the videos.

She said: “From the short videos I was sent, residents could be seen and heard, singing along with their old favourites, some taking the role of our clinical specialist, Pam Eaton, by sitting with different individuals, and others taking the role of our guitarist musician, Frances Turnbull, by conducting the group as they sang - it was as though we were in the room as usual!

“After the success of this session, we will be looking at recording a session a week, allowing carers to use our video daily if they like.

"Songs cover a wide range of styles and ages."