Crosby Soroptimists learned about about the beneficial power of music in the lives of people with dementia, their families and carers.
Dean McShane is a mental health specialist and a volunteer speaker for ‘Playlist for Life’. This charity is dedicated to spreading the word on how a personalised playlist can improve the quality of life for people with dementia.
Music that is personally meaningful has many psychological benefits. It can, for example, help reduce anxiety; it may evoke memories that help people connect with each other. Songs – both words and tunes – can flood back into the mind. That ‘flashback feeling’ is so important.
Dean explained some of the science, gleaned from decades of research. It’s known that, even if parts of the brain are damaged, music can still reach other parts. For so many people, therefore, it can be beneficial in diminishing distress and aggression. Personalised music can even reduce the need for antipsychotic drugs.
The Soroptimists were challenged to produce their own personalised playlists, whether for themselves or a loved one. Each track needs to be meaningful – something that brings back fond memories and has that ‘feelgood factor’. The charity has a wealth of free guides and resources that everyone – carers, professionals and individuals – can use.
Dementia is a life-limiting condition … playlists are the soundtracks of life.