Today Music for Dementia launched a #powerof30 campaign for World Alzheimer’s month, asking people to make time to spend 30 minutes a week listening to music with a loved one. They are fortunate to have Christopher Eccleston to support them.
It also marks the start of collecting names of people who support our belief that music should be an integral part of dementia care. Please can you share this link so that we can gather as many signatories as possible. https://musicfordementia.org.uk/power-of-music/
#powerof30
Music for Dementia is asking the UK to make time to listen to music with a loved one for 30 minutes a week to mark World Alzheimer’s Month this September. Its #powerof30 campaign, supported by actor Christopher Eccleston, aims to get people benefitting from the power that music has to promote and support wellbeing, which for many is at a critical low after lockdown.
Over half of us (53%) know somebody with dementia whether that’s through a loved one (26%) or somebody they know well (17%). In addition, one in five (22%) know a friend who has dementia and 48% of those who know someone with dementia say music is of was important to their wellbeing.
Christopher Eccleston, who’s memoir “I Love The Bones of You” focused on the actor’s late father Ronnie’s living with dementia says: “Music has the power to communicate to us on direct and subliminal levels. It can take us places. It can be transformative. It has a unique power of its own and within that, the power to comfort those who may be confused or in the grip of this destructive disease. I fully support and endorse the work being done through #powerof30”.
Grace Meadows, Campaign Director at Music for Dementia said: “Music can be hugely beneficial to people living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia as it has the power to enliven, stimulate and enable people to express themselves.
“Our #powerof30 campaign aims to help people make connections again. Musical services have been severely impacted in the last 18 months, meaning many people living with dementia and their carers have lost those important connections and special moments that music, uniquely, provides – but we can all use music to help create those connections and make a difference to people lives.
“Whether you know someone with dementia or not, we hope people embrace our #powerof30 campaign. No matter what age you are, where you live or what your health is, everyone can benefit from a shared experience of listening to music.”
Sign up here to support the power of music in dementia care: www.musicfordementia.org.uk/powerofmusic
