Dementia and Music

Activities directors, other healthcare professionals and caregivers, here is an inspiring article
By Jane Dreaper
BBC News health correspondent

The writer and broadcaster, John Suchet, is backing a project which uses music to help people with dementia.

Suchet who revealed earlier this year that his wife Bonnie has the condition, is backing the Music for Life project.

The scheme has been running on a small scale for more than 15 years, but is now going into partnership with the prestigious Wigmore Hall in London.

Each course costs £6,500 to run. The partnership means the work will be able to expand.

I went to one of the project's workshops at Westmead residential home in west London.

It was the culmination of eight weekly sessions.

Three musicians - playing the cello, clarinet and viola - performed one hour's music.

Usually they play in orchestras - but during this interactive session, the audience of eight residents and their carers is expected to work as hard as the musicians.

The point is to use music to build up communication with the dementia patients.

Demanding option

David Hirschman, who plays the viola, said: "It's very demanding. It's certainly not an easy option. But it's also......read the whole article

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