Dementia-friendly singing project to be launched

A new ad hoc choir has been set up in Galway to provide a social setting for those with dementia, their carers and other interested parties, who want to enjoy an hour or two of singing, chatting and meeting like-minded people.

Dementia Friendly Singing is a singing workshop for anyone interested in taking part, and you don’t need to be a singer to get involved.

“The ad hoc choir is my own workshop, which is for whoever turns up to sing,” said Kate Duignan, a community musician running voice workshops in the city.

“We sing together and make music and each time is different. So, as the ad hoc choir workshop leader, I’m beginning to work with people with dementia and their carers and other interested people.”

The idea for Dementia Friendly Singing, according to Kate, came from the Alzheimer’s Society of Britain, which has run a similar programme for over ten years.

“In April, I went to Leeds to follow one of the singing leaders and we visited nursing homes and community centres to work and sing together. When I got back, there was an application for a start-up fund from Dementia Friendly Communities initiative, which is part of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, for dementia-friendly choirs,” said Kate.

“This was a very happy coincidence and I applied, along with the Galway City Partnership’s Imelda Gormally, and hopefully we’ll be starting in the next few months.”

There are a great number of benefits to joining the ad hoc choir, Kate explained. Singing is known to be a great help for those suffering from debilitating memory loss, or problems with brain function.

“Singing reaches parts inside us that are to do with emotional and physical memories and those with dementia react to the act of singing together very well.

“Often memories are recovered as a result of a song being sung. Singing this way is energising and happy making, it’s a wonderful way to socialise and communicate, without pressure or judgement.”

Each person taking part will give something and gain something from the choir, she added, because singing together makes people feel great, and everyone will experience the music differently.

“If you anticipate difficulties, then there will be difficulties, but if we can find a way of creating a group that will meet regularly to sing and be a support for each other in a relaxed way, then everything else will follow,” said Kate.

“My wish for the workshops is that we will find a permanent, comfortable home and that they will flourish and become part of Galway City’s artistic culture in the true meaning of community creativity.”

The current workshop was started in NUI Galway, thanks to Societies Officer Riona Huges, the university’s Choir Society and other societies interested in the project. The group meets on Tuesday’s from 2pm to 4pm in The View, Áras na Mac Léinn, NUI Galway, but Kate has big plans to expand.

“The hope is that there will also be two dementia-friendly singing workshops beginning in November in the east and west sides of the city,” she said.

“And these workshops will be funded via Dementia Friendly Communities initiative, which is part of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and is being supported in the communities by Galway City Partnership.”

If you’d like to get involved, you can join the group on Tuesdays from 2pm to 4pm, or get in touch with Kate by email. To find out more about the workshops in the East and West of the city, call Imelda Gormally in Galway City Partnership on 091 768 305.

“Singing is something we’re born with, and no matter how far down our songs are buried, these workshops are a chance to find our voices again, make others happy and make music together.”