Sheffield care home residents make music for national celebration

A MUSICAL therapy session took place at a Sheffield care home to mark BBC Music Day.

Charity Lost Chord delivered the session at The Laurels and The Limes Care Home, on Manchester Road, as one of hundreds of events taking place around the country to mark the annual celebration of music.

The charity aims to improve the quality of life and well-being of those living with dementia using interactive musical stimuli to increase their general awareness and self-esteem.

The session tied in with the launch of the BBC Music Memories website and its Memory Radio function. Designed specifically for people living with dementia, the site aims to stimulate memory through music by helping people to reconnect with music from their past using the extensive BBC archives.

Helena Muller, who founded Lost Chord, said: “We have a positive effect on dementia by using music to stimulate areas of the brain that are still intact. This is particularly important where verbal communication is no longer possible.

“We use a tactile approach, gaining eye contact, holding hands and reaching out.

“Music is the key that can unlock the door behind which a frightened and intimidated person hides. Everyone has a piece of music that sparks something within them – and it is lovely to find.”

Louise Spooner, home manager at The Laurels Care Home, a dedicated facility offering expert dementia care, said: “We’ve been working with Lost Chord for some time and their sessions are always hugely beneficial for our residents.

“While dementia is associated with memory loss, both listening to and creating music can stimulate memories and has proven hugely therapeutic.

“The BBC Music Day was a huge success and everyone is looking forward to Lost Chord’s next visit.”

Lost Chord was founded in 1999 in Rotherham and each year it’s 150 musicians help organise around 1,300 interactive musical sessions in 130 care homes, primarily in South Yorkshire.