Calls to increase popular singing group for people with dementia in Oldham

There are over 28,000 people living with dementia in Greater Manchester and the Alzheimer’s Society want more to benefit from its popular Singing for the Brain initiative

Editor,

Many of your readers will recognise how powerful music can be; the way it can evoke memories and emotions, uplift, calm or comfort us.

There are over 28,000 people living with dementia in Greater Manchester and we want more to benefit from Alzheimer’s Society’s popular Singing for the Brain initiative.

It is an uplifting and stimulating group activity, built around familiar and new songs, with fun vocal warm-ups.

By uniting people affected by dementia through song, Singing for the Brain helps to reduce social isolation, improve quality of life, wellbeing and mood - which has never been needed more, as many people have significantly deteriorated from the knock-on effects of lockdown.

Alzheimer’s Society is changing the way we provide support in the community and your readers could play an important part in helping us reach more people affected by dementia.

We are now offering bespoke training to care providers, organisations or individuals across the UK, with an interest in music, to run their own group and become a Singing for the Brain delivery partner.

We have seen and heard many times how music memory is often retained when other memories are lost.

Even in advanced stages of dementia, music can help tap into long-term memories – for some, this can mean they can communicate through singing when no longer able to do so through speech.

I’d like to urge your readers to find out more, and register their interest, by visiting: alzheimers.org.uk/singingforthebrain

Vicky McCall

Alzheimer’s Society Greater Manchester Dementia Connect Local Services Manager

The views expressed are those of the author of the letter and not those of Oldham Chronicle.