The talent show, held in the home’s large “Fiesta Room” auditorium, featured eight acts. Two vocal soloists, a harmonica soloist, a flute player and two pianists were among those included.

The event, which drew more than 60 staff, residents and family members, also featured a grand finale song with residents sporting cowboy garb singing a rousing rendition of “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain When She Comes.”

The performers went through an elaborate movement routine that mimicked the song’s lyrics. Towards the end of the performance the audience was invited to do the same, says Sarah Murray, activity director for the 137-bed Orangeville home.

“It was great – the residents were so excited,” she says.

The idea for a talent show followed the home’s establishment of a resident’s choir in March. The choir was developed after activity staff noticed that a number of residents had a fondness for singing out loud.

The choir, open to both the cognitively well and unwell, began by meeting once a week. The meetings, says Murray, were unstructured and often began with a resident chiming in with their own favourite song.

When the choir increased the frequency of their meetings to twice a week, Murray, who runs the group along with Hazel Keating, assistant activity director, felt a performance was in order.

The talent show’s opening performance featured a solo by a resident in late stages of Alzheimer disease. She executed the song perfectly, says Murray.

Murray, who has been with the home for two years as activity director, was inspired to work in long term care after volunteering at Dufferin Oaks, where her mother, Ruth Ann Murray, worked as an RN.

Although claiming to have not considered it a career option previously, the volunteering experience led Murray to return to school and complete a diploma in gerontology.

“It’s very rewarding,” says Murray, 34, “especially to see how much the residents enjoy events.”