Salt and Light #23

It was a lovely experience singing at a local care home this Christmas, with the wonderful piano player, Sheena Wieckowick. My grandmother suffered with dementia, which is why I started singing in care homes. There is increased oxytocin in the brain when people listen to music. One of the greatest joys of singing is the connection with the audience, and there are measurable improvements on tests of cognitive function when singing to people with Alzheimer’s. The most compelling for me is that when people with dementia respond to music, they can hear a song they recognise from years ago, and can recite every word, even though they may not remember their own name or the person sitting next to them. Miraculously, music reaches a part of the brain that dementia does not effect. It has been proven that self-esteem increases, and those suffering with dementia feel more competent, and less alone. These benefits are not limited to patients with dementia, but can be seen in elderly people in general. Music gives us the chance to be ourselves, to share emotional experiences with caretakers and loved ones. Here is an interview I did from my last project working with people with dementia.