Tools

Room 217 supports that are designed for care

We've all had that moment. It's evening, someone in your care is anxious and pacing, and you know music might help, but where do you start? What do you play? By the time you've scrolled and searched, the moment has passed. We built MUSIC CARE AI for exactly that moment.

MUSIC CARE AI is a new web-based platform with a built-in AI guide we call the MUSIC CARE Companion. Think of it as a knowledgeable friend beside you. Tell it what's happening, "My mom is anxious and pacing in the evening" or "I need a 15-minute calming session before bedtime," and it suggests a music care program, chooses the right Room 217 content, explains why it may help, and walks you through the session. No blank screen. No guesswork. No musical background required, and it works with the TVs and devices you already have.

What sets it apart is what sits underneath: two decades of Room 217 experience and more than 1,500 evidence-informed, community-tested resources. The Companion draws only on this trusted catalogue. It guides and coaches. It never diagnoses, nor does it replace music therapy.

At its heart, MUSIC CARE AI is about human connection, bringing more calm, comfort, and closeness to everyone in the care circle, so you feel supported rather than alone in the hard moments.

MUSIC CARE AI is available November 14 at musiccare.org.

10 Domains of Music Care Delivery

Framework

In 2014, researchers at the Room 217 Foundation recognized a need to create a more detailed framework for how music care can be delivered. It emerged out of a study in a major Ontario hospital, and the framework was published in a scholarly journal in 2016.

The framework is comprised of ten domains, organized in three categories, that encompass situations where music is used in care. The domains are not meant to be rigid. Some music-based activities and strategies could be listed under more than one category or domain at a time.

This delivery framework tool helps you:

Clarify definitions for talking about music care delivery types
Map what is already happening with music delivery in a care setting and where there there may be gaps
Optimize new ideas and possibilities for the use of music in care

The 10 Domains of Music Care Delivery is a significant tool for strategic planning and reporting.

For dementia care

PATHWAYS SINGING PROGRAM is a singing program designed for people living with dementia. Through guided singing and simple, engaging activities, it supports connection, joy, and meaningful engagement at every stage of memory change.

Each themed collection includes 30-minute video episodes led by a welcoming host, creating a safe and inclusive musical experience. The program is flexible and easy to use in a variety of settings, including one-to-one or group sessions in long-term care and community environments.

Beginning June 1, twelve new episodes across three collections, Nature, Music, and Home, will be available on the MUSIC CARE CONNECT app.

PATHWAYS makes it easy to bring music into memory care in a way that is intentional, accessible, and supportive for both participants and care teams.

[Explore PATHWAYS → MUSIC CARE CONNECT App ]

For better care outcomes

The MUSIC CARE CONNECT Streaming App provides access to more than 800 designed musical tools – songs, videos and activities – that support better care outcomes 24/7 in a person-centred sort of way.

Caregivers can customize programs for each individual care recipient. The musical tools have been categorized by care use, such as for dining, showering, exercising, calming, palliative; by genre, such as classical or country; and by theme, such as travel, love.

Content on MUSIC CARE CONNECT includes designed music for palliative and end-of-life, a singing program for dementia care, videos for reminiscence and relaxation, and conversation cards to catalyze engagement for 1:1 care visits.

If you want music care at your fingertips to be able to create and use personalized music care programs anytime, anywhere, subscribe today at either Google Play or the Apple store for $9.99/month.

We also have small team, large team and enterprise pricing available. Contact Lisa for more information – lmills@room217.ca.

For 1:1 care visits

Dance is more than movement—it's expression, connection, and joy. For older adults, dancing boosts physical health, sharpens the mind, and uplifts the spirit and reminds someone of their past experiences. Dance celebrates culture, creativity and self-discovery. In every step, there's a story, a rhythm, and a reason to feel alive.

Room 217’s MUSIC CARE CONVERSATION CARDS provide an opportunity to engage with one another through sharing stories, ideas, feelings and memories through musical associations. Each card has a theme and two sides. A picture is on one side and musical conversation starters are on the other.

Dance is one of the sets of conversation cards and is divided into 2 sections. Part 1 is called Dance Conversations. Themes and questions explore stories from a person’s life through the unique narrative of dance. Part 2 is called Let’s Dance! It gives names, descriptions, images, simple dance steps and music suggestions for twelve types of dance from around the world. Dance steps can be modified to meet physical abilities of participants.

Dance Conversation Cards are excellent for 1:1 care visits and programming.

Where you can find Dance.

Physical copy – https://www.musiccare.org/store

Digital copy – MUSIC CARE CONNECT app on Google Play and Apple Store

- All music streaming platforms

A cd cover for road trip music for life 's journey

For palliative and end-of-life care

Music is essential for a great road trip. It helps set the mood, keeps the driver alert, and makes time fly by. A good playlist breaks up long stretches of silence and keeps everyone entertained. Music also creates shared moments—sing-alongs, quiet reflection, or bursts of energy when everyone’s tired. It enhances the scenery and makes even flat roads feel epic. Every road trip has a soundtrack.

Room 217 has created a Road Trip soundtrack of Boomer songs. While the songs on our version are performed at 60 beats per minute by stellar Canadian recording artists, Rob Piltch and Aidan Mason, the 16 tunes take you right back.

Road Trip is used for palliative and end-of-life care, calming moments, mealtime music, and moments of reflection and reminiscence.

Tracks include:

King of the Road
On the Road Again
Proud Mary
Mustang Sally
Sweet Caroline
California Dreamin’
Route 66
American Pie
Take it Easy
Born to Run
Born to Be Wild
Pretty Woman
Sweet Home Alabama
Say You Love Me
Good Vibrations
Wichita Lineman
Where you can find Road Trip

Physical album – https://www.musiccare.org/store

Digital album – MUSIC CARE CONNECT app on Google Play and Apple Store

- All music streaming platforms

For dementia care

PATHWAYS is a research-informed, targeted singing program for dementia care.The goal is to provide a program that can be used repeatedly by paid and unpaid caregivers who may not be confident in leading music sessions on their own. Briar Boake is the singing host and engages the audience with her beautiful voice, infectious smile and invitational approach.

Seasons is one of the PATHWAYS collections comprised of 4 – 30 minute episodes entitled Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall. Each episode uses 5 well-known songs. Briar invites participants to join in accompanied by the musical track. There are lots of visuals to help engage participants in the song themes.

The singing experience is enhanced by extending the song themes into stimulating activities. Some activity ideas are based on universal themes like love or hope. Some activities have been derived from the lyrics of the songs. Activities can be modified or extended and provide 100s of hours of repeatable, multi-sensory and interactive programming.

The Seasons Collection can be purchased on its own or within the complete collection of PATHWAYS and is sold at the store on musiccare.org or on the MUSIC CARE CONNECT app available on Google Play or the Apple Store.

“We continue to use the PATHWAYS videos on a regular basis. It is also a very successful program that we put on when we have clients that begin to pace and exit seek. PATHWAYS de-escalates the behaviours and calms the clients enabling them to focus on videos.” -Manager, Adult Day Program, Brantford, ON

A picture of a mountain range with a city in the foreground.

For reminiscence and stimulation

Recollections 6 is a one-hour video of images accompanied by the gentle music of Room 217’s Lotus Blossom album. Iconic sounds are reflected in the sights of familiar scenes from South Asia. This dual sensory stimulation is paced at a slower tempo with images changing approximately every 8-13 seconds. Recollections 6 is designed for reminiscence and is used in Snoezelen rooms, hospital waiting rooms and quiet channels, long-term care, hospices and private homes.

Recollections 6 can be used as a meaningful activity for people living with dementia one to one or in a small group. Conversations may bubble up from recalling a story prompted by one of the images. Images may be pastoral i.e., scenic, historical or animate i.e., artifacts, food or transportation. The video may be paused to reflect on and remember the experience.

You can listen to one of the video clips ‘Morning Light’ here.

To purchase the Recollections 6 DVD, visit our store or download the MUSIC CARE CONNECT app from Google Play or the Apple Store.

"After snack time is over, before everybody goes to sleep, I like to put on Recollections. It creates a calming atmosphere and helps to distract the residents. It unites them in a way." – Penny, LTC nurse

A chair on a dock with the words life review on the bottom

For 1:1 care visits

Life Review is a collection of pictures and questions that catalyze memories and conversations about and is part of the MUSIC CARE CONVERSATION CARDS series. Life Review is designed specifically for using with people nearing the end of life, by people who are skilled caregivers and close loved one of the dying person. It can also be used to support bereaved people after the death.

Life Review is a music care tool for reminiscence, life review and legacy creation. Each card has a theme with a picture and some music-related questions. These cards can be used to engage in conversation with a dying person about their life, to broach the subject of challenging relationships and unfinished business, to address funeral planning and remembrance, and to find comfort and meaning in listening to music, together.

The first section of Life Review is called Telling Your Story which prompt a person to construct a narrative of their life through music. The next section, Being Together, focuses on creating meaningful moments in the here and now. Completing Life’s Tasks is the third section and addresses unfinished business, lasting messages and legacies , and conversations about music for funerals and other rituals. The Work of Grief is the final section designed for supporting bereaved people.

Life Review is not meant to be used word for word, start to finish. It is meant to inspire possible avenues of conversation. Some of the questions may bring complex emotions, so not every question will feel comfortable or appropriate to use. Use the cards flexibly. If you encounter responses that you are not sure how to handle, seek support from qualified counsellors.