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

Dear 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 more than 50,000 people living with dementia in Wales and we want more to benefit from Alzheimer’s Society Cymru’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 Cymru 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

Cheryl James

Wales Area Manager, Alzheimer’s Society