How Coro Health Transformed Resident Care – Laura Mock's story

When Laura Mock, a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), introduced Coro Health’s MusicFirst and FaithFirst services to the long-term care communities she supports through LifeLoop, she didn’t realize just how much it would transform not only the lives of the residents but also the entire communities.

This is her story—a story of how MusicFirst and FaithFirst helped her break through barriers and foster deeper connections, and why your community can benefit from the same life-changing services.

The challenge: Disengaged residents and stretched staff

Before Coro Health, the communities Laura supports were doing their best with limited tools. Their staff used CDs and old technology to try and provide therapeutic music, but it wasn’t enough. The residents, many of whom through MusicFirst and FaithFirst, Laura Mock transformed resident engagement, staff support, and family connections in senior care communities.d dementia, were often disengaged. They slept through breakfast, were restless in the evenings, and struggled with confusion.

“I remember watching residents sleep through breakfast, which we all know is such an important meal of the day,” Laura explains. “They weren’t just tired—they were disengaged, and nothing we did seemed to really reach them.”

The staff, already stretched thin, found it hard to engage residents consistently. Evening shifts were especially challenging. “We had so many residents who would get agitated or confused in the late afternoon due to sundowning,” Laura recalls. “And we just didn’t have the right tools to calm them down or help them relax.”

In short, the staff needed a better way to reach their residents, especially those in the later stages of dementia. This is when Coro Health stepped in.

The solution: Coro Health’s MusicFirst and FaithFirst

Coro Health’s MusicFirst and FaithFirst services provided Laura and her team with exactly what they needed—a way to connect with residents in a personal, meaningful way.

MusicFirst
Offering a wide variety of therapeutic music, MusicFirst gave Laura’s team the flexibility to adapt the environment to meet the needs of the residents. Whether it was energizing music to wake up residents in the morning or calming music to ease evening agitation, MusicFirst quickly became an essential tool.

“We all know that music can really reach people where they are,” Laura says. “I can’t tell you how much it saved the day. Residents who used to sleep through breakfast suddenly started tapping their toes and singing along when we played upbeat music in the morning. It helped them wake up and get engaged.”

And it wasn’t just about waking residents up. MusicFirst also played a key role in calming agitated residents in the evening. “We found that calming music made such a difference during sundowning,” Laura recalls. “Residents who used to pace the halls or grow agitated were suddenly much more relaxed.”

FaithFirst:
FaithFirst allowed the communities Laura supports to meet residents’ spiritual needs in a way that no other program had before.

“Spiritual wellness is such a huge part of overall wellness,” Laura explains. “Before FaithFirst, we had limited spiritual content, and it was often focused more on education than engagement. But with FaithFirst, we were able to offer personalized spiritual experiences for our residents—whether it was through music, prayers, or sermons. It’s been an incredible tool, especially for residents in hospice care.”

The impact: Immediate and transformative

The effects of Coro Health’s MusicFirst and FaithFirst services were immediate and profound.

Improved resident engagement
Laura saw that residents in the communities she supports, who had been disengaged for months, started to participate again. “We had one resident who was non-verbal for so long,” she remembers, “but when her favorite song came on, she started singing every word. It was amazing.”

Even more striking was the way music helped residents connect with their caregivers. Laura recalls how one housekeeper, who had been unable to get a resident to allow her into his room, used classical music to open the door—literally and figuratively. “He had been refusing care, but when she played classical music, he opened up, told her about his past as a violinist, and let her in. That was a breakthrough moment for us.”

Reduced staff burden
The ease of use of both MusicFirst and FaithFirst helped reduce the burden on staff, making it easier for them to provide high-quality care. “It wasn’t just for the activities department,” Laura says. “Everyone—from housekeeping to dining staff—started using it. MusicFirst and FaithFirst became tools for the entire team.”

The platform’s simplicity meant that even staff who were initially hesitant to use new technology embraced it quickly. “It’s so user-friendly,” Laura says. “Once the staff realized how easy it was to use, they loved it. It helped them connect with residents in ways they hadn’t been able to before.”

Deeper family connections
Coro Health’s services also allowed family members to have more meaningful interactions with their loved ones. “Families would come in, unsure of how to spend their time with their parents or grandparents,” Laura explains. “I showed them how to use MusicFirst to play songs that their loved ones enjoyed, and it transformed those visits. Instead of awkward conversations about the weather, they were reminiscing and singing along together.”

Why does your community need Coro Health?

Laura’s experience is not unique—any long-term care community she supports can benefit from the power of Coro Health’s MusicFirst and FaithFirst services. These tools provide a simple yet effective way to improve resident engagement, reduce staff burden, and create meaningful connections between residents, staff, and family members.

The services are easy to implement and can be used across departments, making them a truly versatile solution. Whether you’re looking for a way to reduce agitation during sundowning, engage residents in meaningful activities, or meet their spiritual needs, Coro Health has you covered.

“My advice to any community considering Coro Health?” Laura says. “Take the time to explore it. There’s so much there that can help your residents—whether it’s music to engage them or faith-based content to support their spiritual wellness. It’s a game-changer.”

The right choice for every community!

Coro Health’s MusicFirst and FaithFirst services have transformed Laura’s communities, bringing joy, peace, and connection to residents and staff alike. It’s not just an activity tool—it’s a powerful solution that can meet the emotional, spiritual, and social needs of your residents.

If your community is looking for a way to enrich the lives of residents, engage your staff, and provide meaningful experiences, Coro Health’s services are the right choice. Start your transformation today, just like the communities Laura supports have done – and see the difference that personalized music and spiritual care can make