Dementia care staff to be taught to play music

Care staff will be taught to play instruments and sing as part of a plan to transform dementia care.

Hertfordshire has been chosen by the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) to be home to the second Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia.

It was hoped the training programme would create 'Music Champions' at 100 care homes and teach 6,000 staff therapeutic music techniques.

Hertfordshire County Council said care staff will also be trained on how to encourage music reminiscence and dancing.

The project has been led by Age UK Hertfordshire, which has worked with the county council, Hertfordshire Care Providers Association (HCPA) and the charity Music24.

It builds on work done in Manchester, where the first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia is based.

Mark Hanna, CEO of Age UK Hertfordshire, said: "Our vision over the next several months is to implement this work in Hertfordshire with a view to potentially expand beyond the borders as the programme progresses."

Sarah Perman, director of public health at Hertfordshire County Council, said the project will embed music into dementia care "on a large scale".

She continued: "The Centre of Excellence will not only support care homes but also eventually extend training opportunities to community groups, mental health services, and hospices, ensuring that more people can benefit from the life-changing power of music."

The initiative will create personalised music experiences for residents by considering their personal preferences.

It is believed music will help residents reduce anxiety, stimulate memory and communicate.

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