Line of Duty star Vicky McClure' s documentary showing the power of song to help those with dementia could have a huge impact on thousands with the condition in the North East.
The Alzheimer's Society has reported a rapid rise in people signing up to form singing groups - and a North East group leader has spoken about the "incredible" impact singing can have. There are almost 40,000 people living with dementia in the region, and the charity and its partners wants to reach as many as possible with its Singing for the Brain groups.
The charity has more than 250 active groups singing already, and offers training to care providers, organisations and individuals, but is desperate to expand this further - especially after the success of actor Vicky's documentaries which have charmed the nation. The Line Of Duty star, 39, formed her Nottingham-based musical group in 2019 after her late grandmother Iris’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s taught her the healing power of music.
The recent BBC documentary revisited the choir and watched them recording a charity single at Abbey Road in London. Vicky has said she would take Our Dementia Choir to Downing Street, but only if the Government were “serious about creating change” for those living with the condition.
The Singing for Dementia scheme "is an uplifting and stimulating group activity, built around familiar and new songs, with fun vocal warm-ups", the charity said. Claire Burnley, a support work who leads a group for people in Durham, Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear added: "T he change you see if people living with dementia once they start singing is incredible.
"They remember the lyrics from songs that were popular when they were younger, so singing as part of a group can take them back to happier times. And even if they don’t recall the activity for long, they are still left with a lovely feeling.
"That’s when we know we’ve done our job. Group singing sessions are also great for family members and carers, who can support one another by sharing their experiences."
Claire runs sessions virtually on the first Monday of every month. And there are already more than 250 Alzheimer’s Society and delivery partner-run groups in the UK, including 27 across the North East, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Judith King, Alzheimer’s Society Head of Service, said: "Music memory is often retained when other memories are lost. Singing for the Brain can help people, even in advanced stages of dementia, to tap into long-term memories linked to music and song – for some, this can mean they can communicate through singing when no longer able to do so through speech."
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