Together in song: Designing a singing for health group intervention for older people living in the community

Introduction: International research evidence on the physical, cognitive and social benefits of group singing for older people is growing rapidly. However, singing interventions are inconsistently reported, with details of intervention development, musical content and structure often omitted, impeding replicability and synthesis. This paper poses two research questions: (a) What specific guidelines for singing groups can the research team recommend for older people aged over 65 living in the community who have health and well-being concerns? (b) What recommendations can the research team make for singing group facilitators, building on two pilot studies and over 20 years of experience running singing groups? Method: A detailed three-stage process of intervention development and evaluation was undertaken, following Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance. Results: The findings of each stage of intervention development and the resultant tested intervention, which aims to meet the physical and psychological health and well-being needs of older people, are presented. Key features of the final intervention include flexible, person-centred musical content; opportunities for social interaction; and appropriate resources, such as large print songbooks. The results of the pilot studies indicate the capacity of group singing to benefit interpersonal relationships and social connection among older people, contributing to increased well-being. Discussion: This intervention aims to contribute to the possibility of replicable large-scale studies of the impact of singing for health groups on the health and well-being of older people.