Our Power of Music report highlights role of music in dementia care

One year in the making, we are pleased to release our call to action Power of Music report which outlines a blueprint to use music to help transform communities and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing.

The Power of Music report has been created by Music for Dementia and UK Music, which consulted with key stakeholders from charities, government and the health and social care sectors as well as the wider creative sector along with people living with dementia and their carers.

Our report asks for the Government to work with health, care, music, philanthropy and third sectors to work together to invest in and capitalise on the positive changes the power of music can deliver. It also outlines a series of ambitious but achievable recommendations to create tangible solutions to this serious issue. These include:

• The appointment of the UK’s first Power of Music Commissioner to champion and coordinate all the work in this area – setting up a new Government taskforce and a Life With Music Consortium to spearhead positive change.
• A major public awareness campaign to show how the power of music can change lives, improve health and bring communities together – supported by a new online information platform, development of which is being led by Universal Music.
• Support frontline workers with accessible training to music within three years to understand the benefits of music and how to use it as part of the care they provide in their work setting.
• Extra funding to help make music accessible to all delivered by new investment partnerships between Government, industry and philanthropists.

Music for Dementia Campaign Director Grace Meadows said: “The pandemic has shown us how we urgently need to reimagine health and social care in the UK. Music has a critical role to play in this and, while we’re committed to making this happen, we can’t do it alone. We need leadership, public engagement and funding at the very least, including the appointment of a Power of Music Commissioner who will turn our recommendations into action.

“One of our biggest challenges is that people still don’t know about the power of music, but we could begin to change that within a year.

“As a country we can change the lived experience of millions suffering from dementia and wider health issues. We can do it quickly, simply and we can do it now for a relatively small investment. It just needs commitment and a determination to work together. Let’s do it.’’

UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said: “We already know how music helps people cope with the challenges of isolation, loneliness and uncertainty. Our UK Music research last year found 57% said music helped them deal with Covid-enforced lockdowns – and 59% said music helped with their mental health and wellbeing.

“It is evident that we should join forces to bring the worlds of music, health and care much closer together to improve the quality of life for people across society.

“With strong leadership, cross-sector collaborations and a joined-up approach, music can help us recover from the pandemic and provide innovative solutions to some of the pressing challenges we face if we fully harness the power of music.”

You can view a one page summary of the report here.

Or download the full report here.

Please join the debate and share your thoughts about this report and the power of social by using #powerofmusic on social media.