Singing for the Brain: Lifting Spirits

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Singing sessions offer musical magic and more for dementia patients and their carers.

The Alzheimer's Society's 'Singing for the Brain' sessions offer a little bit of musical magic as dementia patients and their carers learn new songs and belt out the classics. Helen Vincent, coordinator for the initiative, explains how singing helps both sufferers and carers. Carer Shirley explains how the initiative has helped her husband Don who suffers from Alzheimers. Helen Vincent discusses patients' reactions to the sessions - some remember words to songs from 1 week to the next while others struggle. What is best for her is that everybody can participate.

From: Dementia: Making a Difference

First Broadcast : 24 May 2012

Teachers' notes

Age Group : 14-16,16+

Subject : Health & Social Care

Topic : Mental Health, Care for Older Individuals, Understanding Common Illnesses, Diseases and Disorders

Keywords : Alzheimer's, Care needs of individuals, Elderly, Promoting quality care and communication, Dementia

Notes : •Research into alternative methods of working with dementia sufferers and give your opinion, with valid reasons about each method. •Do further research into the context behind ' Singing for the Brain'. Ask pupils to research the career of Chreanne Montgomery- Smith, the founder of the initiative. •Use in Unit 1 GCSE Health, Social Care and Children's Services (Care needs of individuals - the elderly); Unit 2 - Human Growth and Development (Life changes and sources and support); Unit 1 GCE Promoting Quality Care and Communication.

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