Making music available to everyone living with dementia
To promote the growing body of evidence that music can be a powerful tool to help people living with dementia, a national campaign has been launched to demonstrate the importance of music in dementia care.
The campaign website Music for Dementia 2020 is the first ever central information hub for advice. It provides evidence-based research and expertise as well as ideas on how people living with dementia and their carers can access a wide range of musical activities – including listening to music, creating playlists, making music and music therapy.
The campaign has a clear mission - to make music available to everyone living with dementia by 2020.
The campaign has the backing of both the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC) and the Utley Foundation, who in extensive research studies have found that music therapy has the potential to improve a person’s physical health and mental wellbeing.
Baroness Sally Greengross
Chief Executive of the International Longevity Centre-UK
“ILC very much welcomes the Music for Dementia 2020 website, which responds directly to recommendations made by our Commission on Dementia and Music.
“Analysis by the ILC, undertaken for the Commission, showed that music helps to significantly minimise some of the symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, and can help to tackle anxiety and depression. Moreover, evidence suggests that music helps us to reconnect with loved ones with dementia.
“However, at present we know that too many people are missing out on the opportunity to engage in music-based activities. Bringing together learning and information about activities in this website will be a vital first step to widening access and opportunity for everyone.”