EverTrue Laclede Groves Selected as the Only U.S. Community for International Music and Wellness Study  

EverTrue Laclede Groves was selected as the only U.S. senior living community to participate in an exclusive international research initiative called “Sounding Out Tunes.”

The project, led by researchers and partners in the United Kingdom and Denmark, is exploring how outdoor musical instruments and sensory garden experiences can impact well-being, connection and quality of life for older adults.

“This project is a fantastic opportunity to build a stronger evidence base around something many people already feel has real value – music therapy. Gathering meaningful insights will show how outdoor music-making can make a genuine difference, not just for residents, but for the environment as a whole,” says Dr. Stuart Wood, Percussion Play Researcher.

At the heart of the project are brightly colored outdoor percussion instruments installed throughout EverTrue Laclede Groves, including patios in Care Center, Memory Support and Chapel areas. With an additional three instruments that Percussion Play provided for the study, and which EverTrue will retain, residents, families, visitors, staff and volunteers have been encouraged to interact with the instruments and share their experiences through surveys and observations collected during the four-week study period.

Sensory gardens are designed to engage people of all abilities through sound, touch, color, movement and nature. Researchers hope to better understand how shared musical experiences can foster connection, encourage engagement and support overall wellness.

EverTrue Laclede Groves began its partnership with Percussion Play in 2022 after the Music Therapy program was selected as the Laclede Groves Auxiliary’s annual Project Fund recipient. Today, sound gardens are featured at EverTrue Laclede Groves, EverTrue Mason Pointe, EverTrue Meramec Bluffs and EverTrue Breeze Park, enriching the lives of residents, families, staff and community visitors through music, connection and engagement.

“The Percussion Play instruments in our outdoor spaces create an inclusive environment for all within our community to enjoy. During the initial research period, we have observed residents, families, visitors and team members embracing nature, music and social connection through the instruments. I look forward to exploring the impact outdoor music opportunities have on community wellness and continuing international partnerships that support our mission of older adults living life to the fullest,” says Emily Sitzes,S EverTrue Laclede Groves Director of Community Wellness.

Residents have already begun using the instruments as part of music therapy programming and intergenerational activities with local childcare partners.

“If I hear music, I want to move,” says Laura, a resident of the EverTrue Laclede Groves Independent Living neighborhood. “I don’t think of myself as a musical person – I don’t play the guitar or anything – but I love listening to music. It is calming. I love the variety and the colors of the musical garden. I’ve even come out and played them in the rain. It’s the ethereal quality that I like the most.”

The study ran throughout June 2026. Representatives from Percussion Play, Daniel Fry-Maguire and Andy Barnes, visited from the U.K. to interview EverTrue Laclede Groves residents, learn how the sound garden is impacting them and discuss how the instruments work.

“See how this panel is made of a composite and this one is made of aluminum? That is why they have a different tone!” Daniel explained to Laura as they tried out various sounds together.

At the conclusion of the project, EverTrue will receive study findings that may help shape future programming.

As one of only three participating communities worldwide—and the sole U.S. site—EverTrue is helping advance an important conversation about music, sensory experiences and healthy aging.