A touching intergenerational connection was recently sparked when 95-year-old Paula, a resident at The Belmont Care Home, part of the Sanders Senior Living Group, caught the attention of the local Starbuck Youth Theatre Group after a video of her singing Edelweiss was shared on social media.
The youth theatre group are currently preparing for their summer production of The Sound of Music at The Norbury Theatre in Droitwich this July. Inspired by Paula’s heartfelt rendition, several young members visited The Belmont on Sunday 11th May to share their love of music with Paula and her fellow residents.
Sarah Pavlovs, director of the Starbuck Youth Theatre Group, explained the sentiment behind the visit, commenting, “Having worked in residential homes myself, I know how meaningful these moments can be. It’s a true joy to bring a smile to residents’ faces through music and connection.”
The Belmont‘s Customer Relations Manager, Abi Hargreaves, echoed the sentiment, saying:
“We welcome all connections with our local community as they are so beneficial to our resident’s wellbeing; the intergenerational projects are always such a success, and it is fabulous how social media can bring us all together. Paula loves singing and used to be part of a choir; she was absolutely amazed when she saw the video message from the Starbuck children, and we can’t thank them enough for giving their time to put smiles on our residents faces.”
The group sang a selection of songs from The Sound of Music. The visit concluded with a moving rendition of Edelweiss, performed by the children alongside Paula.
Visibly touched by the performance, Paula shared, “I have sung all of my life. I can’t sing as well as them now, but it’s made my day.”
The visit stands as a shining example of the power of music, community, and the bonds that can be formed across generations.
