Sound Journeys for Seniors & Retirement Communities

Host a Sound Journey at your Senior Retirement, Assisted Living, or Memory Care Facility! Available for Hospice Care, too.

San Luis Obispo County, CA

Photo – Sound Journey for Assisted Living residents at Creston Village Assisted Living and Memory Care, Paso Robles

Invite your residents to experience the soothing, restorative power of sound through a Senior Sound Journey—a calming and uplifting experience designed to support relaxation, vitality, and overall well-being.

These gentle sessions use a blend of therapeutic instruments such as crystal singing bowls, chimes, gongs, drums, and more to create a peaceful soundscape that promotes deep relaxation and stress relief. Residents are guided through a meditative experience that can be enjoyed seated or lying down, making it accessible for all mobility levels.

Each Sound Journey is tailored to suit the needs of your residents—whether in Independent Living, Assisted Living, or Memory Care settings—and always offered with a trauma-informed, compassionate approach to create a safe and supportive environment.

Photo – Sound Journey for residents at Casa de Flores Assisted Living, Morro Bay

Benefits of Sound Journeys for Seniors & Retirement Communities

1. Promotes Deep Relaxation
Gentle sound frequencies help soothe the nervous system, reduce muscle tension, and create a calm, peaceful state—especially valuable for seniors who may experience chronic stress or restlessness.

2. Enhances Mood & Emotional Well-Being
Sound journeys can help lift spirits, ease anxiety and depression, and foster a greater sense of joy, ease, and emotional balance.

3. Supports Cognitive Function
Vibrational sound engages the brain in ways that can improve focus, memory, and mental clarity—especially important for seniors facing cognitive decline or memory loss.

4. Encourages Social Connection
Group experiences foster a shared sense of presence and connection, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.

5. Improves Sleep Quality
The deeply relaxing effects of sound can help seniors unwind and sleep more soundly, especially when sleep disturbances are a challenge.

6. Stimulates Sensory Awareness
For those with limited mobility or verbal expression, sound journeys provide a gentle yet stimulating sensory experience that invites presence and receptivity.

7. Gentle & Accessible
No special skills, movements, or physical exertion are required. Participants simply relax and receive, making it suitable for a wide range of physical abilities and cognitive capacities.

8. Helps Reduce Perceived Pain
Sound vibrations may ease discomfort by shifting attention, reducing stress responses, and promoting the release of natural feel-good chemicals like endorphins.

9. Supports Mindfulness & Presence
Sound encourages a return to the present moment, helping participants feel more grounded, centered, and connected to themselves.

Photo – Dee playing a crystal pyramid instrument for a memory care group at Creston Village, Paso Robles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happens during a Senior Sound Journey session?
A: Residents may sit comfortably in a chair (or lie down—whatever feels most supportive for them). Participants are gently guided through a relaxing sound experience using instruments like singing bowls, chimes, drums, and gongs. The experience may include breathwork, light guided meditation, and moments of quiet reflection.

Following the sound journey, we open up time for Q&A and invite residents to see and explore the instruments up close—an engaging and enjoyable part of the experience.

For memory care groups, the session is more interactive and sensory-based, resembling a calming “show-and-tell” experience.

Q: How long is a session?
A: Independent or assisted living group sessions typically last 30–60 minutes, depending on the needs and attention span of the group. For memory care residents, shorter sessions of 15–20 minutes are often ideal.

Q: Is it safe for seniors with cognitive impairments or memory loss?
A: Yes! These sessions are trauma-informed and designed to be gentle, accessible, and calming for all participants, including those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The soothing sounds can help reduce agitation and promote a peaceful state of mind.

Q: Do we need any special setup or equipment?
A: No special setup is required. I bring all instruments. All we need is a reasonably quiet space where chairs (or mats) can be arranged comfortably. I can set up on the floor or use tables to elevate the instruments, depending on what works best for visibility and the residents’ needs.

Q: How many residents can participate?
A: Group size can vary depending on the available space. Ideally, there should be enough room for residents to be comfortably seated and for me to set up my instruments.

Q: Can this be part of a recurring program?
A: Absolutely! Many communities choose to schedule regular Sound Journeys—monthly or bi-monthly—to support ongoing wellness and engagement. Some locations alternate between Sound Journeys one month and Joyful Rhythms Drumming Wellness Circles the next month.

Photo – listening (and watching) the sound of the ocean waves (ocean drum). Casa de Flores, Morro Bay

Let’s bring sound experiences to your organization that support wellness, relaxation, and joy.

Contact Dee DiGioia to schedule a session or discuss customized offerings for your residents.