The Uists recently hosted a series of successful ‘Playlist For Life’ training events, raising awareness with staff and families on the benefits of personally meaningful music for people with dementia.
The three training sessions, all very well attended, featured staff training at An Caladh, alongside a young person’s session and separate family session held at Liniclate School, with each participant being provided the skills to develop a playlist for those they care for and family members.
‘Playlist for Life’ is a unique tool which encourages people with dementia to have access to a unique playlist of music of their life, to help unlock who they are. In fact, evidence has shown that by having a playlist, it can reduce anxiety and stress for dementia patients and lead to a decrease in medication for some.
Participant feedback was very positive and included comments stating, “I am going to make a playlist with my mother” and “I can see real benefits of having a playlist”.
The training also demonstrated how playlists can improve family social interaction, both when making and listening to them, and also enabled participants to update playlists throughout a patient’s life, including during ill health.
Marion Matheson, NHS Western Isles Health Improvement Officer, said “The training helped participants look at the science behind why music has this effect on people with dementia, how they could make a playlist and so much more. ‘Playlist for Life is truly remarkable and can offer those with dementia a ‘flashback feeling’, a lifeline if you have dementia”.
Training was funded by NHS Western Isles and the Cuimhne Project Tagsa Uibhist, which has become a help point for ‘Playlist for Life’ with monies raised from the 2017 Dementia Walk purchasing 10 recording kits. Anyone interested in borrowing a kit or requiring support to make a playlist is asked to contact Jo Sinclair, The Cuimhne Project Tagsa Uibhist, email: josinclair@tagsauibhisttrading.co.uk A kit can also be obtained from Marion Matheson by emailing: marion.matheson1@nhs.net