Everybody’s Raving: Silent Discos Come to Long-Term Care

A new trend for residents in nursing homes and assisted living communities comes from an unexpected source: dance clubs and rock music festivals. The “silent disco” takes personal access to music and the benefits that come from it to a whole new level. “I didn’t know what to expect at first,” said Penny Cook, chief executive officer of the Pioneer Network, of her first silent disco, held during the organization’s annual conference last year. “At first people didn’t know what to do, then everyone got into it, and we ended up with a whole conga line.” She added, “The reaction was immediate, and people were having a wonderful time.