Most of the time, residents of the NH don't request songs--that's pretty much left to your discretion. There are times the AD will have a particular theme for that day, luau, Hawaiian day, St. Patrick's Day, etc.., which will pretty much mandate some of the songs, but not all. I no longer perform 40s songs at NH, assisted living and retirement communities--it would put most of them, and me, to sleep. They love late 50s, 60s, 70s and some early 80s songs, mostly upbeat with an occasional ballad thrown in.

Among the older songs they love are:

Polka medley (Beer Barrel Polka, Too Fat Polka, PA Polka, Tavern In The Town)
Shake Rattle & Roll
Kansas City
As Time Goes By
Unforgettable

More recently I've introduced:
Black Velvet
Green Green Grass Of Home (Elvis version)
Have You Ever Seen The Rain (CCR)
Proud Mary
I'm Pretty Good At Drinking Beer
Workingman's Bar
Mustang Sally
and lots of newer country songs--all of which they love.

What is really neat about doing the relatively newer songs is the staff usually gets involved as well, frequently dancing with the residents. At one location we have a wheelchair dance, where residents that can dance whirl those in wheelchairs around the floor while I play a waltz, usually Englebert's Last Waltz. Others songs where the staff gets into the action include: Hot Hot Hot, YMCA and similar songs.

Good Luck,

Gary