Murray Bridge Rotary gives dementia patients the gift of music
Rotarians have been out to Lameroo and Pinnaroo, gifting headsets and soundtracks to people whose memories are fading.
This post was contributed by Sam Cosens and the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge.
Dementia is a collective term for a disease which causes significant change in a person’s ability to speak, to reason, and to recall, and often involves changes in behaviour.
These changes often greatly diminish the wellbeing of the person, and the people in their lives.
There is currently no cure for dementia, however there are a number of options of treatment which can alleviate the effects of the disease, and quite possibly slow the progression of the condition.
Considerable research has shown music therapy to be of benefit in reducing the impact of loss of capabilities, and bring about significant improvement in the quality of life for sufferers.
The onset of dementia appears not to significantly change musical memory within the brain, so therapies which trigger musical memory can reduce the impact of cognitive decline.
The Music for Dementia program is based upon providing people with dementia with easy access to recorded music, especially music which is likely to have been an important part of the person’s earlier life.
Hearing this music stimulates a different outlook on life, and may extend to dancing, singing, playing an instrument, and generally improving their overall health.
As Murray Bridge News reported in February, the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge has taken the initiative to extend the project into the Murraylands, seeking out people who are effected by the onset of dementia.
Murray Bridge Rotary Club trumpets Music for Dementia project
Michael X. Savvas • Feb 10, 2023
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This project has been successful in finding recipients for the specially designed headsets with an in-built selection of music.
Funding for this initiative has been greatly assisted through a grant of $2000 sourced through Rural and Remote Health, within Flinders University.
So far some 36 music sets have been placed in care facilities and at private homes at no cost to recipients.
- More information: Contact Lyn Sickerdick at murraybridgerotary@gmail.com or on 0437 519 320.
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