How music is keeping positive memories alive for people living with dementia
The benefits of music for wellbeing, particularly for people living with dementia, has been a big thread through older people’s services at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).
And over the years, projects have harnessed the fact that music is a universal form of communication.
A new webinar on Wednesday, 4 December (5.30-6.15pm via Teams) will give members of the public the chance to find out more about one aspect of the work NSFT has been involved in.
Heather Edwards, founder and creator of Music Mirrors, will be talking about how music can support mental wellbeing and those living with dementia.
“We all have moments when a simple sound or snippet of music opens up a world of the feelings and memories which have made us who we are.
“Music Mirrors are an easy way to capture and store these moments and keep positive memories and feelings alive. Linked to YouTube, they can call up sounds, wherever and whenever we need them, to give comfort and help us to connect with other people.
“A Music Mirror can be useful to each of us as an individual, but they have added value in caring for those who are unwell, or vulnerable physically or mentally.”
The tool was developed with Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and was recently the subject of a four-year study through Zurich university in Swiss care homes, hospitals and domestic homes.
Results showed that wellbeing of people with dementia was better after the Music Mirror use across different care situations.
The report states: “While the Music Mirrors were played, individuals with dementia showed more positive than negative emotions at each measurement occasion.
“Caregivers felt better, closer to the person with dementia, and less stressed. They also reported significant gains at the end of the intervention.”
The report said these effects were “momentary” on the caregivers but helped build bonds between them and the people they were caring for.
Music Mirrors, a brief written resources of acoustic material associated with practical activities of daily life, have become an established extension of care plans in the UK, since they were set up by Heather in 2018.
Heather said: “They are positive life story memories involving sounds or music, written down briefly in someone’s own words and linked to acoustic cues to reinforce their emotional significance.”
Dementia staff at the Julian Hospital in Norwich have received training on the use of Music Mirrors from Heather.
And activity co-ordinator Mark Rushmere applies the principles to his therapy sessions on wards.
“I play songs from football terraces or national anthems, for example, and generally try to think out of the box. There was one gentleman, who used to race motorcycle sidecars. I would regularly play motorcycle rider footage to him, none of which he ever watched, but he would listen intently, commenting on gear changes and whether the engine was ‘fizzing’.
Mark and the dementia team will also be harnessing the theory of Music Mirrors for a Quality Improvement (QI) project, on using music to aid with personal care with a view to reducing distress.
Chief Nurse Anthony Deery said music was a fantastic tool to improve the lives of people living with dementia and he praised the work of Heather and NSFT teams involved Music Mirrors.
“This study in Zurich really solidifies how Music Mirrors can benefit service users and their families and it’s wonderful to see how music can be used to create a safer, kinder and better environment for care.”
Heather added: “I'll never forget that this this would never have happened without NSFT and its research team.”
On the webinar, Heather will explain how to create a Music Mirror and who can benefit. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.
Register for the event at https://nsft.uk/musicmirrors. To learn more about Music Mirrors visit www.musicmirrors.co.uk
Mark's musical success story
Activity co-ordinator Mark Rushmere spoke about the “emotional journey” music can take service users on at a recent event for NSFT staff, service users, carers and partners.
The event in Great Yarmouth showcased a variety of projects as part of NSFT’s Listening into Action programme to improve services.
The older people’s services team from the Julian Hospital in Norwich presented a care delivery case study about the use of music with service users living with dementia.
Mark told the audience of 200 how the choice of music on the wards has been led by service users. “The playlist has been compiled over the last two years from engagement with patients who’ve been particularly receptive to music. These patients have been a huge inspiration in pursuing music therapy.”