Musical Bingo and Mental Wellbeing: A Feel-Good Morning at Age Connects

On the morning of 6th August 2025, our Age Connects group came together for a high-energy musical bingo session with a nostalgic 80s theme. The playlist included hits from ABBA, Blondie, Shakin’ Stevens, and Wham — and the group didn’t hold back! Participants sang along, laughed, and even joined in with the iconic YMCA dance routine.

We were especially pleased to welcome two new attendees: one participant who found us through our feature in the Glamorgan Star newspaper, and another who got involved while volunteering in the café. The morning had a vibrant community vibe, filled with connection and joy.

Why Musical Bingo?

Musical bingo is not just entertaining — it provides significant therapeutic benefits:

🧠 Mental Stimulation & Mood Boosting: Listening to music can trigger positive emotions and stimulate cognitive processes, including attention and memory. Familiar tunes often evoke strong emotional and autobiographical memories, enhancing self-identity and wellbeing (Thaut & Hoemberg, 2014; Juslin & Sloboda, 2010). Music-based activities like bingo have been shown to improve mood and reduce anxiety (Fancourt & Finn, 2019).

🤝 Social Connection: Group singing and shared music experiences promote social bonding and reduce feelings of loneliness, particularly important for mental health in later life (Creech et al., 2013).

✍️ Fine Motor Skills & Focus: Using a pen to mark off songs during bingo supports fine motor control and hand–eye coordination. This type of light physical engagement can also promote sustained attention and sensory integration (Beis et al., 2004).

🎤 Creative Expression & Joy: Participants had the opportunity to express themselves through singing and movement, encouraging confidence and a sense of achievement.

We ended the session smiling, energised, and looking forward to next time. As always, our sessions reflect the power of occupation — meaningful activity — to enhance wellbeing, connection, and quality of life.

References

Beis, J. M., Keller, C., Morin, N., et al. (2004). Training in manual dexterity in occupational therapy: Effects on hand function in older adults. Occupational Therapy International, 11(4), 237–246.

Creech, A., Hallam, S., Varvarigou, M., & McQueen, H. (2013). Active music making: A route to enhanced subjective wellbeing among older people. Perspectives in Public Health, 133(1), 36–43.

Fancourt, D., & Finn, S. (2019). What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe.Juslin, P.

N., & Sloboda, J. A. (Eds.). (2010). Handbook of music and emotion: Theory, research, applications. Oxford University Press.

Thaut, M. H., & Hoemberg, V. (Eds.). (2014). Handbook of neurologic music therapy. Oxford University Press.