Scottish band The Bluebells have performed with a dementia-inclusive choir at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery to raise awareness of the power of music.
Showcasing their number one hit, Young at Heart, the trio were joined by the Every Voice Community Choir from Dumbarton to mark the launch of National Playlist Day – a UK wide awareness raising campaign spearheaded by music and dementia charity Playlist for Life.
One of the choir members is Danny MacDonald, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia ten years ago when he was 52.
He attends the choir with his wife every week.
STV NewsHe told STV News: “My diagnosis was quite earth-shattering at the time but it’s been uphill all the way since then.
“Sometimes you don’t feel like going but once you start singing it lifts your spirits. It helps keep your focus and you’re doing something exciting.
“My favourite song is Lean On Me. It talks about very much about the value of getting support from other people and building your confidence.”
Tommy McLean was diagnosed with dementia in 2016.
He said the hardest aspect is giving up his driving licence and becoming less sociable.
“That was hard, a very bad thing for me. I always liked driving,” he added.
“It affects my family too. I used to enjoy socialising and nowadays I prefer to sit in my own house.
“My wife tries to get me involved in various things. When I was first asked to attend the choir, I thought it was not for me. But I went along and met a bunch of great people. I thoroughly enjoy it.”
STV NewsMusician Bryan Marshall runs a number of community singing groups around Scotland.
He said: “We have up to 100 people coming every week to sing together, most of them living with dementia, along with their carers, their family and friends.
“All their worries, troubles and challenges are put to one side for an hour when we are together singing.
“You see that joy and happiness coming out. They can reminisce and chat. It’s extremely rewarding to see.
“They might come into the choir heavier on the shoulders, maybe they had a difficult morning. But then their worries dissipate and their smiles return.
“It’s a hugely healing process.”
STV NewsNational Playlist Day takes place on Friday September 20 to encourage people to create a personal playlist of songs that make up the soundtrack of their life, which can be a lifeline if diagnosed with dementia.
In 2023, for National Playlist Day, The Bluebells and the Every Voice Community Choir joined Scottish indie giants The Twilight Sad and a host of other acts at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow for a fundraising concert. This year will be even more special thanks to this one-off collaborative performance.
Ken McCluskey of The Bluebells, said: “The Bluebells are proud to support National Playlist Day and the work of Playlist for Life as our parents and close families have been dealing with dementia in recent times and we know that music can be so powerful for people who are living with the condition. I’m aware of the great work that Playlist for Life does to support people affected by dementia.”
Over two decades of scientific research has shown that for people living with dementia, listening to personalised music can reduce the most distressing symptoms, improve mood and communication, make difficult tasks more manageable and help people connect with their families and carers. It can even reduce the need for medication.
The Older Adult Community Mental Health Team in NHS Fife recently saw an 80% reduction in the need for medication for ten people living with dementia at home following the use of personalised playlists.
STV NewsMichael Timmons, executive director of Playlist for Life, said: “Everyone has a unique soundtrack to their life. This can be key to unlocking memories, helping start conversations and creating connection for someone living with dementia.
“Our work over the last 11 years has transformed the lives of countless families across the UK. We want everyone living with a dementia to have access to a playlist and for those who love and care for them know how to use it.
“This month is World Alzheimer’s Month, and while there are exciting developments in new treatments, it could be a way off yet before these are widely available. Personalised music playlists can help people now. It’s a simple tool with a low cost but a massive positive impact on the lives of people living with dementia.
“We’ve created a ‘Playlist Maker’ which you can use to get started. I’d encourage everyone, regardless of their age, to think about the soundtrack of their life this National Playlist Day, not just as something to bring joy today but as a potential lifeline for the future.”
National Playlist Day is supported by a thousands of local community groups, and national organisations including Alzheimer Scotland, Nordoff and Robbins, Age Scotland and Glasgow Life. Glasgow based, Playlist for Life which won Scottish Charity of the Year at the SCVO awards in June this year, hopes National Playlist Day will encourage more people to use meaningful music to support a loved one living with dementia.
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