In a video on social media, an older man reacts with emotion when singer Sofie Simoen-Habets from Roosendaal sings the song ‘Brabant’ by Guus Meeuwis for him. The man is in the palliative department (a department for people in the final phase of their lives) in the Thebe Aeneas residential care center in Breda. The singer receives many compliments on TikTok for her rendition of the song. “It’s wonderful what the impact of music is.”
The man completely blossoms when Sofie sings the Guus Meeuwis song in his room in the residential care center. Hand in hand they sing the song Brabant together.
“Beautiful,” the man shouts as Sofie recites her rendition of the song. The daughter of the man who makes the video also sings along at the top of her lungs.
Many people on TikTok are moved by the video. “It’s wonderful what the impact of music is,” writes Denise. “It’s very impressive to be able to sing like that at such difficult moments,” says Margareth.
Elvira very much sympathizes with the man in the video: “It’s so beautiful to see how this goes to the gentleman. Hopefully it gives him a lot of resignation and confidence in what will come.”
“If only there were more people like this.”
Yvon has a lot of admiration for Sofie’s work. “If only there were more people like this who still do the work with their heart, it would make the world a much more beautiful place.” Janneke is also impressed: “Wow! Touchingly beautiful! This is how we should treat our ancestors and predecessors.”
The singer from Roosendaal often sings on behalf of the Diva Dichtbij Foundation for the elderly in healthcare institutions or people who are ill for a long time. For example, for people with dementia or mental illness.
In this way, Sofie and her colleagues bring the theater to the nursing home. This way they experience moments of relaxation and fun together with the residents.