Can you help set up a dementia singing group?

Newtown residents with an interest in music are being urged to help create a local group for people with dementia.

Alzheimer's Society Wales wants to help set up a group as it believes singing and music can help local Alzheimer's sufferers.

"There are more than 50,000 people living with dementia in Wales and we want more to benefit from Alzheimer’s Society Cymru’s popular Singing for the Brain initiative," said a spokesperson for the group.

"It is an uplifting and stimulating group activity, built around familiar and new songs, with fun vocal warm-ups. 

"By uniting people affected by dementia through song, Singing for the Brain helps to reduce social isolation, improve quality of life, wellbeing and mood - which has never been needed more, as many people have significantly deteriorated from the knock-on effects of lockdown."

She added: "Alzheimer’s Society Cymru is changing the way we provide support in the community and your readers could play an important part in helping us reach more people affected by dementia. 

"We are now offering bespoke training to care providers, organisations or individuals across the UK, with an interest in music, to run their own group and become a Singing for the Brain delivery partner.

"We have seen and heard many times how music memory is often retained when other memories are lost. Even in advanced stages of dementia, music can help tap into long-term memories – for some, this can mean they can communicate through singing when no longer able to do so through speech."

Anyone interested in setting up a group can register at alzheimers.org.uk/singingforthebrain