Music in Mind dementia cafés are launching across Greater Manchester to support those living with dementia and their carers.
- Funded by key local organisations, the initiative forms part of a newly established Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia.
- The programme aims to provide person-centred care through musical interaction, requiring no prior musical experience.
- Anonymised research will explore the effectiveness of these music sessions on dementia care and potential NHS cost savings.
- 300 ‘Music Champions’ will be trained to expand the initiative’s reach, potentially benefiting over 1,000 individuals.
Manchester Camerata’s ‘Music in Mind’ dementia cafés are now accessible throughout all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, offering critical support to those living with dementia and their carers. The cafés are a part of a major expansion following significant support from regional powers, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, the NHS, and The Power of Music Fund from the National Association of Social Prescribing.
These cafés, developed in collaboration with The Alzheimer’s Society and the University of Manchester, aim to deliver ‘in the moment’ person-centred care through musical participation. Attendees, including those living with dementia and their carers, can engage in music-making using an array of percussive instruments, with no requirement for prior musical knowledge. This approach facilitates meaningful, wordless communication, enhancing the quality of care and interaction.
To ensure sustainable growth and impact, over 300 individuals will be trained as ‘Music Champions’ to facilitate these cafés across the community. This training initiative is expected to support more than 1,000 dementia patients within the next three years. Local partnerships with organisations such as Age UK, Mind, and Together Dementia Support will assist in recruiting and training these champions, ensuring the programme’s seamless integration into community settings.
Concurrently, Manchester Camerata, alongside the Alzheimer’s Society, will be developing a research initiative with the University of Manchester and the NHS to measure the impact of these sessions. The endeavour aims to gather anonymized data that will provide insights into the benefits of music as part of dementia care, including potential cost reduction for the NHS and the development of scalable care models.
The Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia aspires to forge strong partnerships between health services, voluntary organisations, and music and dementia experts. This collaborative framework is designed to test and refine novel approaches to integrating music into dementia care, offering evidence-based models that can be expanded across England.
Music in Mind dementia cafés represent a significant stride in dementia care, illustrating the profound impact of music on health and social care practices.
