An internet radio station for people living with dementia and their carers launched by the Music for Dementia charity is now broadcasting.
M4d Radio, which is free to listeners and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is a group of five channels designed to follow the rhythm of the day from waking to bedtime and through the night.
The mix station is specifically designed for care homes, providing a mix from across the decades, suitable for larger groups to enjoy listening to together.
Listeners can tune into the mix station or one of four further stations playing music by decade from the 1930s to the 1970s via www.m4dradio.com.
The stations are available via any internet-enabled device including computers, tablets, smartphones, TVs and smart speakers.
M4d Radio is non-commercial and does not contain advertisements, avoiding distraction or confusion for people with mid- to late stages of dementia. Similarly, the talking sections of each programme are kept to a minimum.
The launch is supported by BBC broadcaster Lauren Laverne, Music for Dementia’s ambassador, who has recorded a welcome for listeners.
Laverne and other celebrities have pledged to highlight m4d Radio via a social media video campaign #Song4You. They are dedicating a song to for someone close to them who is isolating in lockdown, to be played on the station in the coming weeks.
“We all instinctively know how music can help connect us to others, but for people living with dementia music provides a lifeline,” said Laverne.
“We’d love to see as many people as possible getting involved in the #Song4You challenge, help build the m4d Radio playlist and crucially, help improve the wellbeing of so many who are affected by this awful disease,” she added.
Alzheimer’s Society operations director Helen Foster said: “M4d Radio will hopefully help connect people with dementia and carers across the UK and make those affected by dementia feel less isolated.”
