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Report calls for all people living with dementia to have access to personal music playlist by 2020

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

A REPORT on dementia and music has called for every person living with dementia to have access to their own personal playlist by 2020.

The ILC-UK Commission today published their findings, having investigated the life-enhancing benefits of a range of music-based interventions for people living with dementia.

It recommends that the best use must be made of technology available, and a consensus reached on the clear potential of digital interventions, such as providing music playlists as a therapeutic tool.

The report highlights their ‘unique value’ alongside benefits brought by other forms of music based interventions.

It concludes: “Given the relative affordability of digital interventions, we want all people with dementia to be able to access interventions such as (but not limited to) Playlist for Life by 2020.”

The Playlist for Life charity was founded by BBC Scotland’s Sally Magnusson in 2013 to bring the power of music into the care of people with dementia.

Sally set up the organisation having seen first hand the effect that music had had on her mother Mamie’s dementia.

The power of music, often with a significant personal meaning, as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of dementia is well-established by over two decades of medical and academic research.

It has been scientifically shown to be effective in reducing behavioural symptoms of dementia, specifically agitation and aggressive behaviour.

Personal playlists have been integrated into many care homes around the country.

With over 850,000 people in the UK having dementia, and that number set to double by 2040, the Commission brought together experts in the field to try to better understand the potential of music in helping to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing society.

The Dementia 2020 challenge calls on us all to help our country become the best in the world for dementia care, and for dementia research.

The Commission aims to provide solutions and recommendations to help answer this call by drawing together information about the provision and value of music-based interventions. 

Playlist for Life charity launch new music app for people living with dementia

Playlist for Life CEO Sarah Metcalfe, a Commissioner on the report, said: “This report confirms that music is a powerful but under-used tool for people living with dementia.

“A personal playlist is a cheap, simple and powerful way for someone with dementia to harness the power of music to live with the disease. Your playlist for life is all the music that gives you that ‘flashback feeling’ when you hear it.

“Over the next two years we need to make it general knowledge that something as simple as your playlist for life can make living with dementia easier for those with the condition, their families and carers.”

Playlist for Life offers information and tools to help families find the right music for a loved one and trains health and care workers in how to schedule listening to improve care. For more information visit www.playlistforlife.org.uk