Music and Moments at บ้านศิริวัฒนธรรม

This was my fourth visit to an elderly home, but my first time at "บ้านศิริวัฒนธรรม" located in the province of Ratchaburi (ราชบุรี).

For some context, บ้านศิริวัฒนธรรม was started by a husband and wife who wanted to care for elders who had been left behind by their relatives. These elders had no one else to turn to, so the couple decided to open their home and take them in. What began as a way to help a small number of lives has grown into a full-time mission. Today, they are able to house over 60 elders. What struck me the most was how they were willing to care for each elder as if they were their own children. Every day, they would wake up at 3:00 a.m. to carry the elders one by one to shower them, making sure each person was clean, comfortable, and ready to begin the day. The home is a non-profit that runs entirely on the donations of kind-hearted people. Everything in this home, from the beds to the food to the water, is made possible by the kindness of others.

After talking with the owner of the home and getting to know him better, I was invited to perform in two different rooms: the men's room and the women's room.

The men's room was my first stop. As I began setting up my keyboard, a few of the men, those who weren't bedridden, stood up and grabbed chairs to sit down in front of me. Others stayed lying in their beds at the back, but they watched me with curiosity. Before I started playing, I gave them a brief introduction to myself: "สวัสดีครับทุกๆ ท่านนะครับ ผมชื่อทีม อายุ 16 ปีอยู่ชั้นเรียน ม.5 และวันนี้ผมจะมาเล่นเปียโนให้ทุกๆท่านฟังนะครับ ก็หวังว่าทุกคนจะมีความสุจกับเสียงเพลงนะครับ! (Hello everyone! My name is Team. I'm 16 years old in grade 11, and today I will be playing the piano for all of you, and I hope you all will enjoy the music!)

Once I started playing, the room slowly came to life. A few men tapped their feet to the beat, while others nodded their heads. Some closed their eyes with small smiles as if the music was bringing back old memories.

At the end of my performance, they were all so delighted. Some clapped, others smiled warmly, and some even called me to their bedside to express their gratitude.

Grandpa even gave me a Lactasoy ❤️

Next, I headed to the women's room. The environment here was very different from the men's room. Around 90% of the elders in this room were bedridden. I set up my keyboard at the center, adjusted the volume so the sound could reach everyone, and began to play. Some women closed their eyes as if to savor the music, while others turned their heads toward me and listened intently.

When I finished, a few called me over to their beds. They took my hand, thanked me softly, and one elder suggested that I should play a piece called the Blue Danube next time.

Walking out of the room, I could still feel the warmth of those small interactions. Just seeing their smiles truly made my day.

What struck me most about today's visit was how different each room felt, yet how the music seemed to connect them both. In the men's room, the energy was more visible, with people sitting up, watching, and engaging. In the women's room, it was quieter, but the connection was no less meaningful. Sometimes, it was in a lingering gaze, sometimes in a hand reaching for mine.

This experience ultimately reminded me that you really never know how much your actions can mean to others. I came to play without expecting much, not sure how the elders would respond to my music. Especially when I was met with mostly silence during my previous visits to other elderly homes. But after I finished playing in both rooms, seeing their smiles warmed my heart right away. There was just something about me being able to offer happiness through my music to these elders with health conditions and no relatives to turn to that felt really special.

It made me think about the complex relationship between wealth and gratitude. Sometimes, those with fewer material possessions seem to appreciate simple gestures more deeply, reminding me that true gratitude often comes from the heart, not from what you have.

At the end of the day, it's not about what we give, but the love and presence behind it that truly makes a difference.

-Team