My mother Madge, 92, has lived in care homes for nine years following the onset of vascular dementia. She can’t remember what she ate for lunch 30 minutes afterwards, but she can recall the lyrics to hundreds of jazz songs with startling accuracy, silently mouthing the words. But it’s not just her memory that comes back to music – a part of the old Madge returns as her face lights up, her toes and fingers tap, and she literally comes alive.
Weekly visits by a musician to mum’s current home in Ramsgate, Kent, dramatically change the mood of a confused, anxious 85-year-old, who only ever says “help me” over and over. Music day is the only time she ever smiles, proud of being able to recall all the lyrics.
Critics think it’s just pink fluffy nonsense, but it’s cheaper than anti-psychotic drugs and a lot more effective
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