Greater Manchester is to become the UK’s first center of excellence in music therapy for dementia – in a bid to determine whether the treatment can ease pressure on the NHS.
More than £1 million of funding has been committed to the project to provide more music support to people living with dementia across Greater Manchester.
There are more than 940,000 people in the UK who suffer from dementia, with one in 11 people over the age of 65 most affected.
Caring for the people we live with insanity in the UK it costs more than £34 billion a year, with the Alzheimer’s Society stating that by 2040, 1.6 million people in the UK will have dementia.
The long-term aim of the project is to use knowledge accumulated over the next three years to analyze how music therapy can reduce the need for health and care services.
Sue Clarke, regional services manager for the Alzheimer’s Society in the North West, said: “This is something we need to think about really differently. It keeps people well and at home and keeps people out of the health and social care system.” . .
“It’s about being part of something that will allow people to stay socially active, engaged and not end up in long-term care, which will support the social care system.”
The project was launched at a music café organized by Manchester Camerata, which runs weekly Music in Mind sessions at The Monastery in Gorton, Greater Manchester.
Beryl Roczniak and her daughters attend every week. “For people my age, it’s something that keeps us going,” Roczniak said.
Her daughter Irenka Roczniak-Harding said it was transformative: “You can see how uplifting it is for her and even for her grandchildren who come over from time to time.”
Sonia Roczniak-Gulzar, her other daughter, added: “We have had some difficult times over the last 18 months, but we have managed to keep her out of hospital and she comes every week, except maybe one or two, when she is not well and she misses.”
Amina Hussain is the principal flutist at Manchester Camerata and also works as the charity’s resident music therapist.
She said: “We have so many magical moments in sessions that maybe aren’t immediately noticeable to the outside looking in, but some of these really subtle changes in someone when you interact with them are just beautiful.
“It’s one of the most joyful things any of us have ever experienced. It really changed the way we see music and what it can do for people.”
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Danny Docherty has vascular dementia and attends the sessions with his wife Sue and two carers. Every week he plays the Irish classic Danny Boy accompanied by the pianist and memorizes all the lyrics.
“When you come here you feel calmer,” he said.
Danny Docherty and his wife Sue
His wife, Sue, added: “I think the song is fabulous, it takes away a lot of things and you’re here in this moment. You want to spray something and it’s there forever.”
Among those who have committed funding and supported the project is Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who revealed that his own music fan father was recently moved to a care center after being diagnosed with dementia.
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He said: “Greater Manchester is a place that has always understood the power of music.
“I saw firsthand the transformational impact of what they [Manchester Camerata] do in our city region.
“This project will provide transformative support for people with dementia and their carers across our 10 boroughs. It will also generate innovative research that will influence health and care policy across the country, whilst directly improving lives across Greater Manchester. “
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