Carers and families are being encouraged to embrace VE Day as an opportunity to open conversations around music to help people living with dementia rediscover their favourite tracks.
The Music for Dementia charity said music has been proven to alleviate the symptoms of dementia, getting through where many drugs and other therapies fail, improving quality of life and memory recall and reducing anxiety.
As millions of people prepare to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day on 8 May, Music for Dementia is calling for everyone to recognise the value of music then and now.
Campaign director Grace Meadows said: “Due to the current situation, we are all feeling a certain ‘wartime spirit’. We hope VE Day will give carers and loved ones an opportunity to rediscover and share some of the music from their past to reconnect in here and now.”
She added: “Being able to have a musical experience that takes you out of your everyday situation is particularly important now when people are enduring heightened anxiety because they are isolated in the lockdown. Whatever the era, music has a unique ability to help in the care of people living with dementia but is most effective when the right music is played.”
Residents at the largest care home in Weymouth, Gracewell (pictured), have meanwhile been busy making bunting in preparation for VE Day.
Residents have decorated the care home’s main windows at the front of the building to help the local community feel involved in the celebrations.
As part of the historic anniversary, residents will be treated to themed food and cupcakes with various activities set to take place in the home.
