Dementia organisation creates personalised music for care home residents during coronavirus lockdown

A Devon based organisation which creates bespoke and individual music for people with dementia will distribute MP3 players to care homes to help residents during the cornavirus lockdown.

The Purple Angel Music company based in Torquay are requesting care home staff, managers and family members of residents to send a list of their favourite songs.

Purple Angel will then download up to a maximum of 15 songs onto an MP3 player where the residents can listen to their favourite tunes.

In return, Purple Angel is asking for is a small donation so they can continue their with their charity.

’By three songs in he’s singing and dancing’

Purple Angel in Torquay was created four years ago by Norman McNamara who goes by the name Norrms. He told carehome.co.uk: “We have evidence sent back from care homes from around the country and hospitals where the residents play music half an hour before their meals it not only calms them down, but they are eating the food and drinking fluids. A lot of care home residents have started eating by themselves without help.

“It is played through headphones and we wanted to make sure the songs we put on the MP3 player are the songs they wanted to listen to remind them of the good times. We didn’t want songs going on there that would upset them.

"The only thing we ask people to do is give us 12-15 songs of their absolute favourite tunes. We’ve done all sorts of things for people. We’ve done steam trains, Willow the Wisp and short stories.”

At the early age of 50, Norrms was diagnosed with Lewy bodies in 2012. Since his diagnosis, he has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of others with dementia, he has written six books about his fears and feeling of what it is like to live with dementia and has opened a dementia café in Torquay specifically for people with dementia to come along and talk.

Norrms founded Purple Angel when he was first diagnosed with Lewy Bodies. He said: "I was absolutely shocked that there was nothing out there. Things have changed now but at the time I didn’t know where to turn.”

The name Purple Angel was influenced by the name Norrms calls his wife. He said: “I have always called my wife ‘my angel’ because if it wasn’t for her giving me my medication, I wouldn’t be here. My wife was a carer for 35 years before she had to stop and look after me.”

Suzanne Moore from Lime Court Care Home uses the Purple Angel Music MP3 players. She told carehome.co.uk: “I contacted Norrms after I found out about the MP3 players as they were looking for people to try it. We have them tailored for certain residents that we have who have end stage dementia and one specifically for a man who is wheelchair bound who loves big band music.

“The one resident that it really did work for was a resident who has severe dementia and behavioural problems. He often became quite agitated when we were trying to support him with personal care.

"He loves Elvis so that was tailored specifically for him alone and we have found still to this day if he becomes agitated, we put the MP3 player on and we can leave him for a little while. By three songs in he’s singing and dancing and we can then support him by washing and taking him to the toilet so that has worked 100 per cent without a doubt.”

Ms Moore says it takes time for the residents to get used to wearing headphones. “If you can get them round that and you know enough about your residents and you know what sort of music they like then you are onto a winner.

“One resident who also has dementia couldn’t really communicate but could only communicate facially or one-word answers. She was constantly on the edge but the music just soothed her, she would relax in her chair and almost float away to wherever the music was taking her."

Ms Moore believes the MP3 players have been a massive success in her home and music in general really is key to get the best of dementia residents because they can sing the words to the song when they can’t have the conversation.

She said: “Music is good for the soul – Purple Angel just ask for the music you want downloaded and then it arrives ready to use. We do this tailored for the individual and bespoke because music is such a strong emotional thing.”

The Purple Angel are also looking for virtual ambassadors through the website and Facebook page. Norrms wants as many people to educate people with a better understanding of dementia and stop the stigma surrounding the disease.

He said: “Social media is a wonderful tool. We asked if anyone would like to become a virtual ambassador and we got a lot of interest from people who are unpaid carers with experience of looking after family members and ex carers from care homes and academics."

To find out about the Purple Angel MP3 scheme and how to become a virtual ambassador clickhere

click here for more details or to contact Lime Court