Live Music Now South West has teamed up with Reminiscence Learning and Abbeyfield to deliver a groundbreaking new project to older people in Somerset. The Quality of Life project aims to look at new ways of using music as a way to improve the lives of those with dementia. Live Music Now South West will be providing a series of musical workshops from a wide variety of musicians from around the world including a special guest performance by The Prince of Wales's Royal harp player, Claire Jones and James Sherlock, winner of the 2007 BBC Fame Academy: The Next Generation.
With the help of Reminiscence Learning's 'Angels' the project will look at new ways to engage people with dementia through a range or reminiscence activities and a variety of music. "This will trigger and stimulate our long term memory and enable us to record individual stories" commented Fiona Mahoney, Chief Executive Reminiscence Learning.
For the next two years the target for the project will be to produce support material for artists from all fields working with dementia. Ali Smith, Director of Live Music Now South West said "we are delighted to be the coordinating partner in this major European project. Live Music Now will be able to use our 32 years of experience working with dementia to lead this exciting and rewarding project".
For further information please call 01823 669880 or email [email protected]
ENDS
Editors' Note: Live Music Now (LMN)
Editors' Note: Abbeyfield www.abbeyfield.com
Abbeyfield is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to making the lives of older people easier and more fulfilling. Abbeyfield helps people to live independently by providing a range of services, all of which are linked to the local community.
Abbeyfield currently has over 500 houses and 80 care homes across the UK, and are adding to these numbers by constantly developing new facilities.
Editors' Note: Reminiscence Learning www.reminiscencelearning.co.uk
Reminiscence Learning is a Somerset based registered charity and provides a specialist training experience for three main areas within the care industry.
● Dementia Care ● Planning Activities ● Reminiscence Therapy
A dedicated team of people work together to ensure that all training courses are prepared and delivered in a professional and educational way yet are fun, practical and thought provoking with comprehensive resource files and certificate.
Reminiscence Learning train people at all levels of ability and need and are therefore suitable for Private Individuals, Carers, Volunteers, Professionals, NHS Trusts, Nursing and Residential Homes, Day Hospitals and Community Centres.
They offer a series of training courses both accredited, National Open College Network (NOCN) and taster workshops for those wishing to improve their knowledge and skills in the field of dementia, activity and reminiscence.
They also provide Activity Angels to work alongside health care assistants and activity organisers, to run and mentor activity sessions and specialist projects within the care home environment.
