The Mayor and Mayoress of Milton Keynes have witnessed the power of music on people living with dementia.
Councillor David Hopkins and his wife Susan joined an Alzheimer’s Society ‘Singing for the Brain’ group, which uses music to stimulate memories, as they celebrated MK50 and partied like it was 1967.
In a packed programme, the group sang their way through a wide selection of songs from 1967, including numbers from The Beatles, Herman’s Hermits, The Seekers and Sandie Shaw.
Many got ‘into the groove’ by dressing in flares and psychedelic prints. As well as seeing how singing can benefit people living with dementia, the Mayor and Mayoress met regular members to find out more about them and their condition.
Singing for the Brain is an established and successful service provided by Alzheimer’s Society and enjoyed by both men and women living with dementia and by their carers. The programme promotes communication through singing which can help with articulation, concentration, focus and motivation.
The groups are relaxed and fun with specially trained facilitators delivering a varied programme of vocal warm-up exercises, percussion and a wide selection of well-known songs.
Cllr Hopkins said: “I’m delighted to meet with this fantastic group again and what a wonderful way to celebrate our city’s 50th anniversary by singing songs from that era. Susan and I had a great time! We have learnt just how important music and singing in particular, is to those people living with dementia.”
Co-leader Ruth Martin said: “Singing for the Brain in Milton Keynes has proved very popular with all our members and it’s been great fun celebrating MK50 today. The sessions help people living with dementia to communicate, improving their mood and leaving them feeling good about themselves. We have two active groups meeting on alternate Mondays and new people joining all the time – and we’ve got room for more.”
To find out about attending Singing for the Brain and other Alzheimer’s Society services in the area contact Vicky Sargent or Dee Cope on 01908 232612.
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