This week we had a very informative presentation from Brightwater Music and Wellbeing coordinator Hayley Antipas, on 'why music is good for the mind'.
 
Music is known to alleviate stress, reduce agitation, evoke emotion and boost self-esteem.
 
It can have a positive effect on people of all ages and circumstances - especially those with cognitive impairment such as dementia.
 
Brightwater has created the Music Pharmacy - a unique program that uses evidence-based  practice to link neuroscience, music therapy and psychology with music and social wellbeing.
Hayley brought along one of the instruments they use, the Reverie Harp.  There are a range of programs through the Music Pharmacy including Serene Strings.  This innovative program aims to empower people living in care, using the Reverie Harp as a tool for self-care and connection.  The Reverie Harp is lightweight and ergonomically designed so that anyone can play it, including those who are frail.
 
Brightwater's Manager Marketing and Client Engagement Andre Rauch, gave a short introduction about Brightwater.  The Brightwater Group is Perth's most trusted aged care and disability support provider.  Brightwater has grown to become one of the leading aged care agencies in Perth.  Their senior services include in home care assistance, residential aged care and retirement living but they also provide services for those who require disability care and assistance.
 
Brightwater have a range of aquired brain injury clients with different levels of abilitys, which require multidisciplinary rehabilitation to enable them to access the community. The aim of the rehabilitation is to support their clients to reintegrate into the community.
 
As a not-for-profit organisation, Brightwater relies in part on community and corporate generosity to enable them to deliver extras in many different ways to the people they support.  Funds raised are directed to the extra things Brightwater would not be able to fund, such as life experiences for their clients, special equipment and programs or vital research.