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MUSIC MEMORIES
f I had to make a choice to live without the TV or Music, I would choose music every time. The reason being is that music brings me so much joy and hearing a certain tune can take me straight back to a happy place and time in an instant. It has the ability to recall particular emotions and change our mood, that’s quite a powerful thing. When you dig a bit deeper into this subject you find that there is a lot of research into the positive impact of music and our well-being. I have learnt that listening to music reactivates areas of the brain associated with memory, reasoning, speech and emotion. Harvard Health Blog reports music listeners had higher scores for mental well-being compared to people overall and active musical engagement, including those over age 50, was associated with higher rates of happiness and cognitive function. The reason music is such a powerhouse is that it has been shown to activate some of the broadest and most diverse networks of the brain. This connection between music and memory is also recognised as a way to benefit people with dementia, helping to improve psychological symptoms such as depression, agitation or aggression. NHS England covers this topic on its website, writing how it can ‘enhance the quality of life of people living with dementia.’ This aspect of music and memory is very much of interest as what we learn we can share with our care team, clients and their family members
10 | SKBramhall & Woodford - September/October 2021
too. As part of our own research, I came across Music4d Radio (Music for Dementia). A group of 5 themed radio stations available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year playing music that evokes memories. It’s a brilliant idea that was developed as a direct response to the impact of Covid-19 lockdown measures. You can choose your birth year to listen to the musical decade where your musical memories were made, typically from our early teen years through to our late twenties. The site gives you the option to listen live or at another time and you can even build your own schedule. I highly recommend this site www.music4d.com for anyone with dementia their carers, family and friends. Supporting someone with dementia can be challenging at times but listening and reminiscing to music together is one way to change the mood.
Karen Perry Founder, alice chilton In-Home Care Services www.alicechilton.com www.alicechiltoncleaning.co.uk
