Upton Dene Residential and Nursing Home 

We are passionate about enriching the lives of our residents, and music is such a magical way to do this.

Upton Dene Residential and Nursing Home 

Upton Dene Residential and Nursing Home is located in Chester. Part of the Sanctuary Care group, the home provides residential care, in addition to dementia, nursing and palliative care.  

Upton Dene Residential Nursing Home is one of our new partnerships. Music therapy student Hannah holds a mixture of sensory-stimulating individual and group sessions with residents at the home. In her final year of her Master’s Degree with Nordoff and Robbins, Hannah takes residents at the home on a “musical journey” one day a week. 

Music can connect us with old memories, but also gives us the opportunity to be present in the moment, connecting with someone else, creating something that you can be really proud of.

Upton Dene Residential and Nursing Home 

Music therapy sessions have provided a space to reminisce for many residents at Upton Dene Residential Nursing Home. Some of these residents live with dementia. Making music brings new experiences and spreads joy, with staff describing residents having an “absolute ball” during sessions. Thoroughly enjoying music therapy is resident Ivor, who is now keen to buy his own drum kit.  

Making music has given residents at Upton Dene Residential Nursing Home a sense of achievement, and an environment to engage in self-expression. Sessions are firmly centred around celebrating people’s abilities and what they can do, and Hannah is passionate that everyone feels included during music therapy.  

You can see so much joy when the residents sing. Music doesn’t rely on words, so it enables people to feel connected, to be valued in a therapeutic relationship.

Hannah, Nordoff and Robbins Music therapy student 

We produced this story in partnership with Upton Dene Residential and Nursing Home, where we delivered music therapy services in 2023.