Singer and Alzheimer’s Society supporter Roy Stride is inviting everyone across South East England to unite in song, through a special one-off Singing for the Brain performance live on Facebook.
Alzheimer’s Society will broadcast a live national sing-a-long session, that is open to anyone and everyone on its Facebook platform to join in, on Thursday 30 April, at 3pm.
From Fly Me to the Moon, to Singin’ in the Rain, the Facebook session will include some fun warm-ups and renditions of old classics, that audiences can join in with from home to experience the power of music together with people living with dementia across the country.
The Scouting For Girls’ frontman, whose mother had early-onset dementia, will join actress and Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador Vicky McClure, whose grandmother had dementia, and former Emmerdale actor, John Middleton, whose character in the soap had dementia, for the event.
People can vote in advance for their favourite songs to be considered for inclusion via a Facebook poll. The page can be accessed via www.facebook.com/alzheimerssocietyuk/
Roy, who lives in Surrey, said: “Now, more than ever, people living with dementia face social isolation and anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Singing for the Brain going virtual is a wonderful concept and a great way for people with the condition and their carers to engage in an activity that is both mentally stimulating and good for overall well-being.”
Music and social interaction has a hugely positive impact on mood, and since the coronavirus pandemic has prevented groups from happening face-to-face, Alzheimer’s Society has launched the service online to bring hundreds of people living with dementia together every week to experience the benefits of music together during the lockdown.
Linda O’Sullivan, Alzheimer’s Society Head of Region for London and South East, said: “Our Facebook live event hopes to give everyone a needed lift at this time.
“Following this, people living with dementia and their carer can continue to access live Singing for the Brain sessions. We have turned many of our traditional Singing for the Brian groups into virtual sessions on Zoom, to help reduce the anxiety and challenges that isolation is having.
“Singing for the Brain is one of the many services that Alzheimer’s Society offers to people affected by dementia. It brings people living with the condition and their carers together to sing a variety of songs they know and love, with fun vocal exercises that help improve brain activity and increase wellbeing.
“The coronavirus pandemic poses a huge risk to people with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Connect support line is hearing from people unable to get essential care, confused by losing their much-needed routines, concerned that their family member’s symptoms are increasing and their health deteriorating because of a lack of social contact. Carers are feeling isolated and struggling to get respite.
“Evidence shows that music can help improve and support mood, alertness and engagement of people with dementia, with research* showing that musical memory is often retained when other memories are lost. Music can help people to recall memories due to the nature of preserved memory for song and music in the brain.”
By making the Singing for the Brain session available to everyone online on 30 April, as a national event, Alzheimer’s Society hopes that people will join in to make a difference to the lives of people living with dementia, and ensure they know they aren’t alone.
Helen Foster, Director of Operations, Alzheimer’s Society said: “It is vital that Alzheimer’s Society is there to offer support for the 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, to make sure they know they aren’t alone. Please donate to our Emergency Appeal to ensure that our Dementia Connect Support line can continue, and that vital services like Singing for the Brain can be available to improve lives and to help people stay connected and remain part of their community.”
Anyone wishing to donate to Alzheimer’s Society’s Emergency Appeal, can visit alzheimers.org.uk/coronavirus-appeal.
