LL LIFE
Song and Dance is
TALLULAH SULEMAN looks at how music workshops can help people with dementia
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Liverpool health charity has launched a new musical initiative to help people with dementia. The Brain Charity has created Music Makes Us! - a free 12week online video programme made up of five dance workshops focusing on physiotherapy, and seven singing classes with a focus on speech and language therapy. The workshops provide useful exercises, practical tips and lively songs to keep people engaged. Kym Ward, Dementia Project Coordinator at The Brain Charity, said: “The past year has been especially tough for people living with dementia, so that’s why we are delighted to be releasing this series.” With Covid-19 news dominating the mainstream media, it can be easy for people to become anxious, especially those with an illness.
Pictures © The Brain Charity
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When a person has dementia, it can be difficult for them to express verbally their discomfort or even to distinguish a change between feeling well and unwell. Recent research has shown that music is able to stimulate different areas of the brain, not only by producing endorphins, but allowing people to relive happy memories from the past. A Spokesperson for The Brain Charity said: “In our music-based dementia therapy workshops in Liverpool, we have seen that people can recall lyrics to songs even when they have lost the capacity to speak in full sentences. “People with no verbal communication at all start to engage in these therapy sessions by responding to the music by nodding along and tapping their feet.” Combining dance and physiotherapy is suggested to minimise the risk
of trips and falls and help people living with dementia retain independence by increasing their mobility and maintaining balance and flexibility. Likewise, blending singing, speech and language therapy strengthens mouth muscles, which ultimately improves communication as it helps to reduce swallowing and breathing difficulties. Before the pandemic, workshops were running in care homes and community settings across Merseyside and had already helped nearly 250 people. It is hoped that with these workshops being online, the number of participants will be able to take part will double as it is available to everyone from around the UK. Ms Ward said: “We hope these videos will give easy access to this fantastic resource for households, care homes and people living with dementia across the UK and beyond.”
Top and above, musical therapy in action
