Singing for
CARE
THE BRAIN Tim Wilkins, a Service User Involvement Officer for Alzheimer’s Society in West Sussex writes about the benefits of ‘Singing for the Brain’
O
ne thing I know for sure, is that most people feel uplifted by singing. Whether it’s an amateur choir, in the car, in the shower, or at Wembley Stadium concert, we all know that singing makes us feel good. However, do any of us truly appreciate how beneficial singing can be for our wellbeing? For people with dementia, the Alzheimer’s Society’s Singing for the Brain groups deliver all kinds of fantastic benefits, from tackling social isolation, to activating long term memories, to enjoying a vibrant shared experience with care providers, friends, and family. Singing for the Brain is a proven way of supporting people living with dementia. Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or a series of strokes. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia but not all dementia is due to Alzheimer’s. The specific symptoms that someone with
dementia experiences will depend on the parts of the brain that are damaged and the disease that is causing the dementia. Symptoms that may point towards a dementia diagnosis include an individual becoming significantly more forgetful to the extent that it affects daily life. This is especially true if you: l Struggle to remember recent events, although you can easily recall things that happened in the past l Find it hard to follow
conversations or TV programmes l Forget the names of friends or everyday objects l Struggle to recall things you have heard, seen or read recently l Regularly lose the thread of what you are saying l Leave objects in unusual places (e.g., keys in a bathroom cabinet) l Have problems thinking and reasoning l Feel anxious, depressed or angry
We sing a variety of songs, some with actions, all chosen to give us a lift
This is not an exhaustive list of symptoms and some of these symptoms can point to other conditions, so it is important to contact your GP if you are concerned. Additionally, readers can call our Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456, 7 days a week. People with dementia have been very badly hit by coronavirus with many people significantly deteriorating from the isolating effects of lockdown. During the lockdowns I have been lucky enough to attend some of the virtual Singing for the Brain sessions set up by Rachel Riley from the Horsham Rusty Brains group. Rachel told me, “Our Singing for the Brain sessions have been a real tonic over the past few months. They have given people something to look forward to and a chance to connect with others. We sing a variety of songs, some with actions, all chosen to give us a lift, and it is lovely to see people smiling when they are enjoying the music. Some attendees sing along, some are happy to listen, some join in with the actions and some move to the music in whatever way
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