Playlist for Life taps into a recognised phenomenon: that personally meaningful music has the ability to improve life for people with dementia, their family and their carers.
In Playlist for Life workshops, people living with dementia, their family members and care staff work with an OHP playlister to create personal playlists to recapture memories through music and implement playlisting into individuals’ routines.
These playlists, stemming from musical memories, can bring back feelings, memories and abilities thought lost. Research shows that listening to a personalised playlist for half an hour before difficult activities or during times of stress should lead to a reduced need for psychotropic medication, fewer falls and reduced distress.
Music makes the job of caring easier and more rewarding. The very act of building a playlist brings carers closer to the individual they care for, and for families, listening can be a joyful experience that brings a loved one back for a while.
Playlist for Life, project partner
