Please share this news far and wide – I want those those looking after people at home with Dementia and Alzheimer’s to know about the Music for the Mind sessions which are taking place in Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire every alternate Monday afternoon. These sessions have been established to give carers and those living with dementia a change of scenery, a chance to meet other carers and a chance to sing, make music and generally enjoy themselves. All are welcome.
The next Music for the Mind session will take place on Monday 9th October at 1.30pm at the Beaumont Care Home, Stamford Bridge. All welcome. What better way to spend a Monday afternoon than singing, making music and having fun with a lovely group of people. 
Now a new report seen exclusively by Channel 4 News reveals that in five years’ time, nine out of ten local authorities in England will not have enough care home places to match the demand of the growing elderly population.
https://www.channel4.com/news/most-councils-will-not-have-enough-care-home-places
Take five and a half minutes to watch this fascinating initiative “Bike Around” created for those living with dementia. The film stars Bengt from Sweden and incorporates Google Street View. Absolutely inspirational – it reduced me to tears.
Please share with carers and those living with dementia in the Pocklington / Stamford Bridge area.
The next Music for the Mind session takes place on Monday 25th September at 1.30pm at the Beaumont Care Home, Stamford Bridge.
It’s a great chance to sing, make music, have some fun and make some new friends.
I was fascinated to read this article today. Many thanks to Lisa for sharing it with me. It sounds an inspirational idea for those living with dementia.
Sadly the UK model based on Hogeway’s concept at Fartown, Huddersfield closed in 2014
Today’s the day! I’m really excited to be holding my first Music for the Mind session at the Beaumont Care Home, Stamford Bridge
These fun, informal music sessions are designed for people living with dementia and their carers, to help retain skills, build confidence, make new friends and combat loneliness.
They will be held on alternate Mondays starting from Monday 11th September 2017 at 1.30pm.
I was delighted to read an article in this month’s Care Home magazine which followed on from the recent Channel 4 experiment and brought news of the first Care Home Nursery which opens in London this month.
This is wonderful news, bringing hope to the lives of many elderly residents and invaluable education for the young citizens of tomorrow who will develop love, tolerance, compassion and understanding of the challenges our older generation face each day. Congratulations to Nightingale House London and to Apples and Honey Nursery on creating the first children’s nursery at a UK care home. Hopefully it will be the first of many.
You can also read the full news item in Nursery World.
Great to see news of the forthcoming “Music for the Mind” sessions featured in this week’s “Pocklington Post.” I’m most grateful to them and to all the local businesses who are kindly displaying posters advertising these sessions on their premises.
Having just watched the two part programme “Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds” on Channel 4 and witnessed the incredible results achieved by opening the doors of a Care Home to a group of boisterous four-year old children over a ten week period, I am inspired by the number of amazing improvements measured in these residents’ mental and physical health. As a result I am even more determined to share my own brand of “Motivational Music” with as many elderly people as possible in the clear knowledge of the benefits it brings to my audiences.
Dementia is rapidly becoming the health and social care challenge of the 21st century.
Music not only stirs our deepest emotions, but active participation can increase energy and vigour to see us through the most stress-filled life experiences.
Billy Joel says “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”
The modern method of using music to heal, called “music therapy,” was born after World War II when physicians and nurses in veterans hospitals noticed their patients improved after listening to music.
Just how the brain and body process music remains mysterious but we know music is processed on many levels at once. Music that has personal significance to someone or is connected with historical events is a strong stimulus to engage responses in people, even in late stages of dementia. Even if they’re not necessarily able to tell you what the song is, they are able to be moved and feel the associations.
Useful Statistics
Ruth Strangeway - Singer 
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