Singer Cassidy Lee Shares Her Music with Brooks Rehabilitation Bartram Crossing Residents

Brooks Rehabilitation is closely following CDC guidelines preventing visitors in our skilled nursing and assisted living locations. Although we have no COVID-19 cases in any of our locations, protecting our patients and staff is our top priority. This new reality, however, forced our activities team to be a little more creative.

Before COVID-19 impacted the world, Cassidy Lee, a singer/songwriter from Jacksonville and recent performer on The Voice, brought her music directly to the residents at Brooks Rehabilitation’s skilled nursing facility, Bartram Crossing, and assisted living facility, Bartram Lakes. She then moved to Nashville to pursue her music career. When large gatherings were banned, she decided to return home to Jacksonville temporarily and wanted to perform at Bartram again. Today, Brooks found a new way for her to share her gift.

Residents were invited to open their windows while Cassidy performed for each one. Influenced by musical greats like Fleetwood Mac, Jewel, Miranda Lambert and the Beatles, she walked from window to window playing a mix of country, oldies and even some of her original music, her new single “You Need.”

The residents were thrilled. There were smiles, tear and even some singing along. Geneva Mitchell said, “The music was just what I needed to lift my mood. I followed down the hall as she went to the different rooms – you could say I’m a groupie.” Van Seiger shared, “This is just gorgeous. She has the voice of an angel.” And a resident who didn’t want to be named said, “When I saw her, I didn’t think it was real. I was so happy.”

“Music has healing powers to reduce anxiety and improve mood. We thought it was necessary to get their minds off the current situation. The smiles and tears expressed today are something we will always remember,” said Jill Bennett, ADC, Regional Recreational and Wellness Director for Aging Services at Brooks Rehabilitation.

Given the warm response today, Brooks is already looking for ways to have Cassidy sing at our other facilities. Residents have also been enjoying other social distance approved activities such as hallway bingo, stretching and video calls with their loved ones.

Check out our feature on First Coast News.