The Utley Foundation funds pioneering new music therapy research

Image shows a man and a woman sitting down singing. The man sits on the left and the woman on the right playing the guitar.

Care provider Anchor is launching an innovative dementia music therapy research project to support residents living with dementia.

Every three minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with dementia. By tapping into the power of music, the project aims to bring joy and comfort, trigger happy memories and benefit the mental health of people living with dementia.

Anchor’s research shows that:

75% of older people find joy in music
84% of older people say music helps to bring back fond memories
74% of the public would want music therapy if they developed dementia themselves

The partnership, launched in collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University’s Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, with funding from The Utley Foundation, will also upskill care workers in the power of music in dementia care therapy.

Asa Johnson, Dementia Services Improvement Manager at Anchor, is leading the project’s rollout. He said: “Every day, we see how music transforms our residents’ wellbeing and moods. It is truly inspiring to see our residents’ faces light up during the sessions.”

With 78% of the public saying music therapy sessions should be widely available for people living with dementia, Anchor is calling on government to include music therapy in its forthcoming Dementia Care White Paper.

Music 4 The Mind

Supported by an expert music therapy team at Anglia Ruskin University’s Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, the 18-month project will launch across 13 of Anchor’s care homes across England. Starting in the South and working up to Yorkshire, the music therapy will involve both group and individual sessions.

Each session will include a different mix of songs, activities and instruments, to achieve maximum benefit for residents and to train carers in a range of exercises. The sessions form part of Anchor’s focus on reminiscence therapy, which provides people with opportunities to bring back memories. During sessions, residents will be singing their favourite songs tailored to them and their interests.

The therapy also includes a physical element by empowering residents to experiment with playing different instruments, such as a tambourine or drum, to create original music.

Everyone can see the music therapy sessions taking place or get involved by playing music with a loved one, using #Music4theMind on social media.