In a poll that I put on the forum some time ago, about things that help in some way, next to conversation and physical contact, music came next in the line http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/talkingpoint/discuss/showthread.php?t=379

I've noticed that Jan's home has a range of music that they play in the different lounges and the main open area. To accomplish this they have a playing system of some sort, and a range of CDs.

With a cross section of people of different ages, and of past likes and dislikes [and present ones too], single CDs are maybe not the best things to have and anyway, I have noticed that many are in such bad condition that the player just makes weird noises at certain points.

I suggested last week that an iPod or similar MP3 player might be a nice idea, because it can be set on shuffle so it plays music of all genres, or it can be set to 1940s, 1960s or whatever.

Clearly a problem is that these devices are small and infinitely pocketable.

So I suggested trying a player with a wireless connection to a speaker that can be put into a particular lounge. The MP3 player can then be set running and locked away in an office somewhere.

[There are solutions that enable wireless broadcasting to a variety of locations simultaneously, but these are very expensive]

Anyway, I'm getting them one that is not too expensive and has good range, and I am going to try it. I can then populate it with music and I will try it out.

If anyone else has tried this solution and has any experiences to share, I would be interested to hear from them.

Clearly there has to be an MP3 music libary created, but I have spare capacity on my PC to load their CDs [the usable ones] and create a library and maintain it for them, and then to load it to the iPod. I happen to have an iPod which is why I have decided on one of those, but of course there are many other MP3 players from other manufacturers that might be used.

 

Thanks, Craig

I'm an impatient sort, so I thought I'd try out the first seemingly practical and affordable system I could find. [since I have agreed to pay for it ]

I am aware that these things can easily get nicked or trashed, and that some don't have good transmitting distances.

I have sent for an Oregon iBall and there is one site that has excellent pricing. I just hope it works - if not I will try again.
http://www.memoryuniverse.co.uk/latest_detail.asp?prod_id=8212

It is also available on Amazon, but at much higher price. I'm wondering if I'm buying a limited function version or something..
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oregon-Scie...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1210497709&sr=8-1

 

all easy really

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The iPod, containing 800+ songs, sits in the nurse's room, locked up so it can't walk away.

The iBall is a receiver and speaker all in one and that can be moved around as needed. Sometimes it may be in one 'house', sometimes in another, other times in the main public area.

The iPod sits on a transmitter that sends the music to the iBall, which picks it up in the same way a standard radio picks up Radio 2, etc.

This is the theory!

Time will tell.....

 

... but not in my experience in the homes I have seen over here in the UK.

The only PC used at the home other than by the manager and her secretary is my last PC that I donated to them when I bought my current one. That one is used for staff training.

 

Hi Barb & Ron

The music player is very small so needs to be locked away, otherwise in a public area it might get removed.

The music player is put in one room and starts to play music from a large selection of pieces [up to 800] that have been recorded on it.

The separate speaker receives the music by radio waves, and can be moved around the home like a transistor radio.

It has the following advantages:

- it saves staff from loading CDs
- it gives residents a broader choice of music
- CDs tend to get damaged; with this system the music is held on a PC and loaded on to the player
- music can be selected by type - by decade, or genre [classical, pop, country and western, etc]

I am simply trying to adapt technology to be useful in Jan's care home context.

 

Yes, of course sound quality is an important factor.

However, these things are often subjective.

My last car had as standard an 8 speaker JBL sound system in it which was very good. When I replaced the car with the latest model, the sound system was nowhere near as good - only 6 speakers and poorer amplifier.

For the first few days, with the memory of 5 years driving with the old system, the new one seemed thin.

However, I'm now used to it and it sounds fine - though of course cars do have engine and wind noise to compete with the music!

So, though the Oregon system may not sound as nice as a similar system costing 5 times the price, it may be ok.

I'll let you know!

 

I've also read no-so-good reviews, but we're not looking top grade hi-fi systems here at the price!

If you want to see it before I install it at the home [and obviously after I have myself received it!] then let me know!

Just off to see Jan now.