No care home 'should be without a singing group for people with dementia'

There is a growing body of research showing the huge impact that music and singing can have on people with dementia.

With this in mind, Diana Kerr, former course director for the MSc in Dementia Studies at the University of Stirling, has written a book 'Singing Groups for people with Dementia'.

The guide is written with the aim of encouraging anyone “who thinks they would like to have a go at using music in this way”.

Ms Kerr, who has over 30 years’ experience as a practitioner, researcher, educator and trainer in the field of dementia says: “Singing can enable people to rediscover abilities and joie-de-vivre that often seemed long-lost. Singing has been shown to improve a person’s mood, recall, self-esteem and overall quality of life.

“It not only gives an immense amount of enjoyment but it also plays to people’s strengths and diminishes the sense of failure.”

She claims that the benefits to people with dementia cannot be understated, saying: “Singing makes us happy; even if the person with dementia forgets that they were singing soon after the event, this does not negate its worth as they still feel good even if they cannot remember why. People with dementia live much in the moment so we should be trying to make as many good moments as possible.”

Ms Kerr tells the story of Malcolm and Isobel

Malcolm heard of a singing group for people with dementia and their carers. His wife Isobel, who had dementia, had not spoken for the last five months. She no longer showed any facial expression and seemed to be in a world of her own.

Malcolm brought Isobel to the group. At first, she appeared agitated and just sat and stared as the singing got underway. Then slowly her hand started to tap her thigh, then she moved her body and began to make some humming noises. By the end of the session, Isobel was singing and smiling.

The next morning she woke up and said to her husband: “I think we should bake a cake today” which they did.

Ms Kerr also quotes a care home manager who said: “I am in absolutely no doubt whatsoever of the benefits derived by those residents who participate in music. The music clearly stimulates residents and has improved, even for a short period, individual levels of self-esteem and quality of life. Residents become lively and animated, their eyes are more alert and bright and they become more expressive. Those with severe dementia appear to gain most. I am aware that the aural sense is the last sense to diminish, so it is vitally important that we keep stimulating this sense for as long as possible.”

Why are singing groups so 'thin on the ground'?

Ms Kerr asks if so much is to be gained from using music and in particular setting up singing groups, why they are so thin on the ground?

She believes it is because there is an assumption that only music therapists can use music with people with dementia and says: “This is demonstrably untrue. Music therapists have a particular and invaluable role but they are not needed to run singing groups. There is also a feeling amongst some staff in older people’s homes that they are not musical enough, another fallacy. Anyone who can sing in the bath can do it.

“There is also a sense of bewilderment at not knowing what to do. This is compounded by staff already feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work that they have to do.”

Her book hopes to address these issues and the shortfall in the provision by showing how any home, any community, any group can easily, quickly and with minimal cost, set up, run and most of all enjoy, a singing group.

Care home residents need to be 'active participants'

She has found from her own experience that “there is quite a lot to know and a need for good preparation and long-term planning”. She also focusses very much on the care home residents being “active participants”.

The book is divided into three parts – Music and Dementia: What you need to know, Preparing to get started and Planning, organising and running sessions.

It guides people through the entire process from choosing and setting up a venue, choosing songs , structuring sessions, sourcing musicians (or background music) training volunteers , finding funding, keeping participants safe and above all, ensuring that everyone has a good time.

Tips for a successful singing group include:

• Get a wide group of people involved from residents and staff to friends, family and volunteers

• You need someone to lead the singing

• Keyboard accompaniment is the most suitable

• You need people to make and serve refreshments

• Morning sessions are probably best as it is when people with dementia are most alert. However some homes find afternoon sessions are good for reviving people

The book ‘Singing Groups for people with Dementia: A guide to setting up singing groups in community and residential settings’ costs £10 and can be found on Amazon, The Book Depository and Waterstones.com