The Happiness Factory is a New York City-based 501(c)3 non profit organization which organizes weekly live music concerts with children in nursing homes, assisted living residences and senior centers.
Thanks to our amazing group of more than 300 volunteer young musicians, we organized 50 concerts in 2025, lighting up the lives of thousands of seniors in NY.
At The Happiness Factory, we strongly believe in the power of music to enrich the lives of people suffering from loneliness.
Social isolation and loneliness are serious public health concerns. Numerous studies have shown the positive impact music has on older adults to reduce loneliness, perception of pain, helping with depression, improved heart rate and blood pressure, lowered anxiety and higher self-esteem, etc.. The list is long.
The world does not always care about our seniors of whom many deeply suffer from isolation.
Having children, and more particularly young musicians, around them provides them with the feeling of existing again, sparking a memory or simply bringing a smile.
We believe live music needs to be part of everyone’s health and social care.
But beyond that, foster intergenerational connection is mutually beneficial to people of all ages, and particularly to older adults.
The music played by children brings back seniors’ sweet memories, while imparting wisdom and love to the engaged musicians.
While playing music for seniors, the children do not only find a way to practice, perform, and gain confidence but also experience the power of improving one’s life; the seniors often clap, move their fingers, the head, the foot, or even stand up to dance or sing; this is an enchantment for young musicians to feel how their music move people.
These social connections are life affirming and often transformative.
Our Vision
Seniors’ often grim faces lighten up with smiles at the sound of music.
Others leave their rigidity behind to tap the rhythm on their wheelchairs, clap their hands. It isn’t rare to see seniors getting up, dancing and singing along, the most tangible proof of the impact the music has on them.
We often live far from our parents and grand-parents; participating in The Happiness Factory allows us to help and establish links with elderly people locally and recreate intergenerational family connections.
We also foster a supportive community of participants and families in bringing the community together.
Our Impact
> 300 young musicians
aged 4 to 20, play regularly with the Happiness Factory in NY
Many concerts every month
we organize weekly performances in different nursing homes
More than 250 concerts
have been organized since we started seven years ago
Over 60 locations
have hosted our concerts including nursing homes, assisted living residences and older adult centers
The gift of music for everyone: Our Bedside Program
No senior should miss out on the joy of music, especially those who can not leave their beds: Our Bedside Program brings smaller groups of young musicians directly to the bedside of the senior residents, creating intimate moments of live music and human connection.
These brief but meaningful performances have a powerful emotional impact, transforming music into a beautiful gift not only for the seniors but also for the young musicians who witness the power of changing someone else’s life for a moment.
The impact goes beyond the numbers, being present at a concert is enough to understand so.
We fill hearts with love but we also fill our hearts with so many heavy bricks of happiness.
Our Partners
