Musicians prescribed for care home residents with dementia

Visits from musicians are being prescribed for people with dementia in care homes run by Hallmark Care Homes.

Musician Andrew Wickham. Credit: Andrew Wickham

The therapeutic musical sessions have been designed to reduce residents' social isolation, depression, chronic pain as well as boosting their communication skills.

Two musicians have been trained up to deliver 1:1 and group musical therapy sessions for residents as part of a Musician in Residence programme run by Musica, a social enterprise that supports people with dementia.

Musicians Andrew Wickham and Jo Thomas will deliver one hour per week of interactive music sessions for people who have been referred to them at Hallmark care homes.

'Sound and music are such elemental forces'

Jo Thomas, who will be based at Banstead Manor care home, said: “It is a real pleasure to be working as a musician in residence with Hallmark Care Homes.

"It has been great getting to know the residents. I work as a composer and musician living in London. Sound and music are such elemental forces in our lives, it is wonderful to be able to share beautiful music and write music together.”

Andrew Wickham, who will be supporting Hallmark’s Arlington Manor care home in Cambridge, said: “I am really excited to be Arlington Manor’s Musician in Residence. I have been a musician for almost thirty years, playing in a range of bands and recording projects.

"For over five years I have worked as a musician in care home settings with older adults, leading many groups in a good old sing-song with some lovely old tunes. Let’s see where the music takes us”.

Musician Jo Thomas. Credit: Jo Thomas

Just how the music sessions help people living with dementia will be assessed by Musica.

Founder of Musica, Rosanna Mead said: “The research suggests that in order to have maximum benefit music needs to be used on a regular basis, and it will be incredible to see the outcomes that come from regular musical interaction in this way. We’re extremely proud to partner with Hallmark on this pilot project.”

April Dobson, head of relationship centred care at Hallmark Care Homes, said: “I am delighted to welcome Andrew and Jo as our ‘Hallmark Musicians in Residence’, and excited about this new initiative.

"Music is a vital element of the way we care for people at Hallmark and our strong partnership with Musica means we can take it to another level through this one-to-one referral service.”

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