I would like to design in-person music resources for Creekside on Bardstown, which provides assisted living and memory care services to residents in Louisville, KY. According to their website, the facility aims to provide all-inclusive services that are “exciting and fresh” to support the highest possible quality of life to residents. The resources I design would be informed by the various strengths, needs, and preferences of the residents, such as the cognition of those in memory care or musical artist preferences, so that each resident could benefit in some way.

Learning more about working with this population and age group would supplement my internship experience and overall growth as a music therapist. I have a semester of experience working remotely with a Parkinson’s group and another brief experience working remotely with older adults, which each provided me experience navigating technology issues with this age group. In addition to providing in-person experience designing activities, this project would transfer the course concept of Universal Design for Learning in the school setting to the assisted living and memory care setting. It would be a hands-on opportunity for me to discover the similarities and differences between inclusive music principles and practices in these settings.

Since I have only recently connected with the Creekside community and am still learning how to design in-person activities for this population, I would need to seek input from others throughout the course of the project. Kelcie Davis, the Life Enrichment Director at Creekside, would be an important primary contact while learning about the community and when receiving feedback from the facility. It would also be valuable to seek input from the residents themselves when possible. Julia Carpenter is a music therapist who visits the facility once per month and may have valuable insight to offer from her time with the residents. I might also seek advice from my professor, Dr. Alaine Reschke-Hernández, who has extensive experience with this population.