Music Heals Strengthens Music Therapy for Seniors at Cumberland Lodge

Bethany Parsons, Music Therapist, with long-term care resident at Cumberland Lodge.

The Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation is deeply grateful for the continued generosity of the Music Heals Charitable Foundation, whose support helps bring comfort, connection, and joy to residents at Cumberland Lodge through music therapy.

This year, Music Heals contributed an additional $6,500, bringing their total support since 2017 to approximately $60,000—a remarkable investment in the wellbeing of seniors in the Comox Valley. This renewed funding will support the continuation and growth of the music therapy program through 2026, ensuring residents continue to benefit from its therapeutic and emotional impact.

Cumberland Lodge is home to 60 residents, most living with dementia or advanced cognitive impairment. Led by a certified music therapist, the program offers small-group and one-on-one sessions, seasonal sing-alongs, and specialized activities such as tone bell choirs and a resident chorus, creating meaningful moments of recognition, expression, and connection.

In 2025, the program expanded to include an intergenerational component, with weekly visits from a local preschool group. Children aged 10 months to 4 years now join residents in music sessions, creating joyful shared experiences that have quickly become a highlight for residents, families, and staff.

“Music has an incredible ability to reach people when words cannot,” says Shelley Carter, Activity Supervisor at Cumberland Lodge. “The generosity of Music Heals Charitable Foundation allows us to continue offering a program that brings comfort, reduces agitation, and creates meaningful connections for residents who need it most.”

The Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation sincerely thanks the Music Heals Charitable Foundation for their ongoing commitment. Through music, residents at Cumberland Lodge continue to experience moments of joy, calm, and belonging—powerful reminders that meaningful connection is possible at every stage of life.