LONDON (CelebrityAccess) – UK organization Music For Dementia has today (Dec. 5) launched a new campaign in association with BBC TV and radio presenter Lauren Laverne aimed at making music more accessible to those living with dementia.
Growing evidence suggests that listening to music with a personal connection has huge benefits for people living with dementia. In response to this, Laverne and Music For Dementia 2020 have teamed to publish a series of guides to help people with dementia and their caretakers create playlists across a variety of platforms including Amazon, Apple, Spotify, Google and YouTube.
Of the new initiative, Laverne said: “I have seen first-hand the deep conversations, comfort and ongoing legacy that can grow out of creating a playlist with a loved one. It was something I did with my dad before he died of kidney disease last year. Music was a huge part of his life but by then he was too poorly to access his own collection. It took a whole day and when we were done, we were left with nine hours’ worth of music. I’m still adding to it as well as listening to it and it is enormously comforting. It helps me feel closer to him. I’m so glad I did this when he was still around, it not only provided a deeper connection when we were together, but his favourite music can still reach me and speak to me now. I want this to be available to everyone who has a loved one living with dementia.”
Neil Utley, founder and trustee of The Utley Foundation, said: “As someone who is involved in the music industry and just loves music, I am delighted that the Music for Dementia 2020 Campaign and Playlist for Life have come together to promote these guides.”
He added: “We know the devastating impact dementia can have, not just on the individual but their families and carers too. Everyone living with dementia should be offered music as part of their care. We are calling on the music industry, health and social care sectors, and the general public to work with us to make it free and easy for people with dementia to access music.”
Grace Meadows, programme director at Music For Dementia 2020, said: “Having access to personalised music, in the right way and at the right time, has been shown to be much more effective than just putting the radio on or listening indiscriminately to music. The act of creating a personalised playlist, whether that’s done online, writing it down or a piece of paper on by going through your music collection with someone, makes up the soundtrack of your life. Often people living with dementia, their friends and carers don’t know how to get on to the right platform to stream a playlist, nor do they know how to have a conversation with their loved one about what music they would like on it. By launching new step-by-step visual guides, which can be found on www.musicfordementia2020.com we are encouraging people to create a playlist this Christmas which can reduce some of the symptoms of dementia such as agitation, as well as bringing people together to build an emotional connection, facilitate conversations and create memories.”
To read more about Music For Dementia’s 2020 campaign and to access the playlist guidelines click here.
