Young at Heart Project

A Good Idea

Description

The Young at Heart Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of senior citizens by sending professional singers and instrumentalists into nursing and retirement facilities. Guest artists are chosen from the ranks of professional musicians currently appearing in venues from San Francisco to Monterey. Young at Heart Project performers must not only demonstrate a high degree of technical competency, but also a desire to provide a vibrant and ever changing repertoire specific to senior audiences. By validating the past through the performance of music from the 20s, 30s and 40s - music popular when the seniors were young - Young at Heart Project musicians create a special bond that enhances and benefits the emotional and physical well-being of seniors.

Goal / Mission

The Young at Heart Project aims to provide the therapeutic benefits of music and entertainment for senior citizens in convalescent and residential care facilities throughout Central and Northern California.

Results / Accomplishments

Since 1984, the organization has provided over 20,000 performances reaching approximately 600,000 seniors.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Young at Heart
Primary Contact
Young at Heart Project
18488 Prospect Road
Suite 11
Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 446-0402
yahproj@young-at-heart.org
http://www.young-at-heart.org/
Topics
Art & Recreation / Music
Health / Older Adults
Organization(s)
Young at Heart
Source
San Jose Mercury News
Date of publication
7/10/2003
Date of implementation
1984
Location
California
Target Audience
Older Adults

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A Good Idea meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program funding source, program implementation steps and outcomes.
  2. The program evaluation is limited to descriptive measure(s) of success/accomplishment (i.e., program participation rates, number of services/education sessions/radio messages provided). Note: oftentimes, the program has been newly implemented and a program evaluation has not yet been conducted. Programs that have not yet been evaluated, but which show promise in improving health or quality of life, are classified as Good Ideas until an evaluation is conducted.