This time of year can be a difficult period for anyone, and this can be felt more so for people living with dementia, their families and carers.
Meaningful music can help people connect, it can ease distress, spark conversation, moments of joy and a unique shared experience for everyone listening.
Could you give the gift of music to someone you know this Christmas? Create a personal playlist for someone you love or support us to continue helping people and families affected by dementia create theirs.
Read on to discover how we help people living with dementia and how you can get involved.
We want everyone living with dementia to have access to a personal playlist and for everyone who loves and cares for them to know how to use it.
We do this by training health an social care professionals to use music in the care of people with dementia; working with our community Help Point network to ensure as many people as possible have access to support in the community and by engaging with policy makers to embed personal playlists into dementia care as standard.
Our work for more than a decade has proven that when a person with dementia listens to meaningful music it can result in the person feeling less agitated, more connected to spaces and people around them and, in some cases, reduce the need for medication.
Arvind Salwan from Glasgow cared for his late dad who had vascular dementia. Arvind said that music “helped us see the person and not the condition”.
Arvind founded Dementia Heroes in Glasgow a place for people living with dementia, families and carers to meet once a month to connect. This is also a Playlist for Life Help Point. Find out more here: Dementia Heroes.
Watch our video to discover the role music of The Beatles and bollywood favourites played in Arvind’s dad life.
Music can stimulate many parts of the brain at once.
When we listen to music it is like a firework display of neural connections in the brain. Even when some parts of the brain have become damaged or can’t be reached due to dementia music can help find a detour those damaged parts.
Watch our animation to see how the brain lights up when it hears music that is personally meaningful.
There are a few different ways to support our work. Find out more by visiting the links below!
You can use this useful guide for ideas and inspiration to help you give a meaningful gift this festive season.
Just £10 enables us to support five people and families by sending them a free resource pack to help them use music to manage dementia.
Find the perfect gift for any music lover in your life this Christmas in our shop. We have tote bags, t-shirts and a book that Sir Alex Ferguson loves.
