Music is a universal language that appeals to both the young and old. Without words, the sound of music impacts us emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and physically. Some even have the power to bring about nostalgic feelings.
In the past few decades, the benefits of music for the elderly has been widely researched. Over half of the people in long-term care facilities suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementia. However, music has been found to:
- Increase social interactions
- Enhance coordination
- Improve overall health
- Boost memory, among many others.
As a result, musicians are often invited to perform in long-term care facilities as a way to help keep the minds of the elderly fit. However, old people are vulnerable and so, it is crucial that the people they interact with are well-behaved and wouldn’t take advantage of them. Therefore, musicians should undergo screening checks before performing to the elderly.
Ensuring Safety
In aged care facilities, it is important to ensure safety at all times because of the vulnerability of the elderly. Therefore, musicians working should carry out police checks before being allowed to perform. This criminal history check helps to get information about the criminal past of the artist. For those that have been charged with multiple acts of violence, it may be unwise to allow them to perform to the elderly given their violent tendencies.
Moreover, for those that are sex offenders, they shouldn’t be allowed near the elderly. It’s even the law that people with violent charges and sex offenders should NOT be allowed to interact with vulnerable groups like the elderly and children.
The elderly should not have access to drugs. Dishonorable musicians can bring drugs into the facility, which is unsafe for the elderly. Therefore, musicians with a drug-related offense may be unsuitable, especially if the charges are recent.
Not only the elderly are at risk by bringing in past offenders. Facility workers are also at risk. To ensure the safety of everyone, a national police check can help provide insight to determine if an artist is suitable to perform to the elderly.
These days criminal history checks in Australia can be completed online. Persons based in Sydney NSW, can do one themselves using the australian national character check australia. The process including uploading identification documents is all online.
Preventing Fraud
As stated early, with age comes mental deterioration. As a result, the aged are more susceptible to fraud. Musicians that are in a financially stressed situation may decide to take advantage of them through financial abuse or manipulation. Since the elderly are quick to trust and unable to defend themselves, people that may take advantage of their old age must be nowhere near them.
A credit history check can help give information about the spending habits and the current financial situation of a prospective artist. Based on that, a prudent decision can be made as to whether they’re suitable to perform or not.
Conclusion
Although music is important to the elderly, the musicians they interact with must not take advantage of their vulnerabilities. And so, background checks are a useful tool to determine if an artist should be allowed to perform to the aged.
