The sounds of tambourines, maracas and congas filled the living room inside a local senior living community in Englewood. As the pitter-patter of rain from the outer bands of Hurricane Helena performed outside, Krissy O\u2019Malley played a whirlwind of songs and a powerful performance inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something that I like to do,\u201d said O\u2019Malley, who graduated from Wright State with a bachelor’s degree in music<\/a> in 1998. \u201cIt\u2019s the best feeling in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis degree has served me so well and keeping music as a part of my life and now helping others through music,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Fitted with a wireless headset microphone and a small speaker hanging from her neck, O\u2019Malley performed songs from the middle of the 20th century for a dozen residents and staff who played various percussion instruments.<\/p>\n After 11 years of working at five different Hospice locations as a volunteer coordinator, marketer and activity director, O\u2019Malley discovered her love for helping others was as strong as her love for music.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s where I discovered my love for the elderly and I learned of music therapy and realized I need to put the two together,\u201d said O\u2019Malley.<\/p>\n Two years ago, she founded Senior Music Connection, whose mission is to enrich the lives of older adults by cultivating connection, creativity and cognitive stimulation through music.<\/p>\n O\u2019Malley travels to 37 senior living facilities around Ohio with her interactive music programs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe education that I got at Wright State was the springboard for the joy of my life,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is exactly what I\u2019m supposed to be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Malley hopes to expand her business in the future. She collaborates with 75 musicians and 37 activity directors at nursing homes and has even booked musicians to work in nursing homes in Minnesota.<\/p>\n O\u2019Malley said her favorite part of the job is when older adults who are hesitant to participate join in with her performance.<\/p>\n \u201cI love to see somebody that comes in and maybe is a little shy or thinks, \u2018No I cannot do it,\u2019 but then they warm up to it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wright State alumna Krissy O’Malley brings happiness to the elderly through interactive music and memories with her new business. Continue reading