Lottery funding helps create playlists tackling dementia

The charities first ever community help point was at St Andrew's Church of Scotland in Carluke

Author: Clyde NewsPublished 24th Jul 2019
Last updated 24th Jul 2019

A charity is to use £1.6 million of lottery funding to help create more personalised playlists to tackle dementia.

Playlist for Life teaches families and care staff how to create a unique soundtrack to a person's life. The charities first ever community help point was at St Andrew's Church of Scotland in Carluke

They claim 60% of UK-wide homes trained by them report a reduction in medication for residents with dementia.

The £1.6 million from the National Lottery Community Fund delivers half the money required to grow the existing grassroots network, which has a target of 1,500 help points.

Playlist for Life tweeted the announcement this morning along with a video showing the treatment in action with elderly patients reacting joyfully to the music.

The Rev Helen Jamieson, Playlist leader in Carluke, Lanarkshire, said: "Playlist for Life has changed my ministry.

"The training we received opened our eyes to the power of music to reach people with dementia.

"Personal music is now a regular part of the way our church supports people living with the condition and their families.

"We have incorporated playlists into church services, pastoral visits and even funerals.''

Playlist for Life was founded in 2013 by the writer and broadcaster Sally Magnusson after the death of her mother Mamie, who had the disease.

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