A new report has recommended all UK care homes should have live music.

Led by Live Music Now and the University of Winchester, the report suggests carefully delivered music can improve older people’s quality of life and provide key benefits for care staff.

Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) told carehome.co.uk: “The excellent Live Music in Care report is a big step forward in showing what live music can do.

“This is much more than simply entertainment. If done well, live music can help care homes achieve all the key indicators of quality person-centred provision that CQC inspectors are looking for.”

The study included 11 weekly sessions of interactive music, including training for care teams, in five care homes.

Musicians included residents in the music sessions by walking by them while playing songs and used eye contact and physical proximity.

The results showed key impacts for everyone involved, concluding that music should be ‘essential’ for all care homes.

Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, said: “We have known for some time that carefully delivered music activities can provide significant benefits for people who live and work in care.

“At last, this important report presents rigorous evidence showing how music can impact on whole care settings, not just individuals. There should no longer be any excuses – live music programmes should be essential for all UK care homes. This report shows why, and what practical steps can homes can take to embrace this.”

The full report can be read here: www.livemusicincare.org.uk