Seniors citizens who laugh and sing, forgetting the frailty of age, isolation and loneliness. Eyes riveted to the screens in front of them, some keep time with their hands, others clap, there are some who even try out dance steps, albeit timidly. And that is a very real picture of what is happening at some care homes for senior citizens, making the people living there feel very special.

The occasion usually is a birthday at the home. And in the role of the good fairy, who appears on the screen to fulfil the music request on the occasion, is young actress and singer Sandra Petrova.

“It was a bit unusual, especially at the beginning of the pandemic when the people from the care homes were not all that well acquainted with the Internet. But with the help of the social workers, in time some of them learnt how to go online, how to connect computers with the TV and watch me on a big screen,” Sandra says.

Her “musical” online encounters are part of “Pass it along” – a charity initiative to help people in difficulty and disadvantaged people, the kind of people living in care homes in this country.

“Though our connection is remote, they tell me important things, things that become important to me as well,” Sandra says and adds:

“What I found out was that they need more attention and that we often forget to give it to them. And they need so little! Sometimes it just takes one phone call to ask them how they are, to ask them about their lives. Because elderly people do have things to impart.”

The most frequent requests Sandra gets is for songs by Lili Ivanova. Folk songs, as well as old romantic songs are also very much in demand. “When their request is for a specific song and I learn it for them, then it is something really special! But Lili is their favourite. She seems to have captured the time of these people and put it in the freezer! When they hear a song of hers – and right away they are up on their feet,” Sandra says.

In these times of pandemic, isolation hits people living in care homes hardest. “Are they sad? When I sing some of the songs I can see them going back to their youth, and yes, there is some sadness,” the actress says.

Kindness is contagious. It brings a lot of joy to people in need, but also to the people who do the good deed. Now Sandra is inspired by one more idea that will bring joy to senior citizens as Christmas approaches. She is currently working on a studio recording of a concert of popular Christmas songs. In it she will sing to the accompaniment of three young musicians. “We could perform the songs online but we thought it would be better if they were recorded so that the people from the homes can play them anytime they like,” the young singer and actress explains, and adds:

“We have another idea we have started setting in motion – to offer benefactors an opportunity, if they want to, to be able to hire musicians. These musicians can organize Latino nights, or old romantic songs nights, depending on what the people from the home want.”

As holiday season approaches – which will be very different this year because of the isolation due to coronavirus – senior citizens, just like everybody else, crave for happiness, joy, music and… dreams. And Christmas is a time when miracles do happen! 

Photos: courtesy of Sandra Petrova