My conversation with Grace Meadows, the campaign director from Music for Dementia, is one that I know will stay with me for years to come.
Music is a huge part of my life so I didn't need convincing about how powerful it is as an art form. I did, however, learn an incredible amount about the research and evidence base behind using music to improve the quality of life for people with a diagnosis of dementia.
Podcast recap:
Music for Dementia
Music for Dementia is a campaign leading the call to make music an integral part of dementia care.
Research and evidence base
Music is a cost effective, none pharmalogical intervention to treat behavioural disturbances in people with dementia. There is a growing body of research to support this that you can read here.
Music and Social Work
Music for Dementia have created a guide for social workers linked here. You can use this in your practice. Care planning is something that is done in all areas of social work and music can and should be a part of this no matter who you are working with.
Listen to the podcast here (there are some sound issues at the start of the episode but if you can be patient through this there is so much value in everything Grace shares).
To learn more:
Social work guide: Social-Workers-Guide-A4.pdf (musicfordementia.org.uk)
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