As life-expectancies grow, so too does the number of people living with various forms of dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society tracks and details the number of people with dementia living in the UK. By 2025, there will be more than a million people affected by the various conditions grouped under the umbrella term of ‘dementia’.
With the current number affected at 850,000, care givers and medical professionals are always looking for new treatments and strategies to help those affected cope and live fill lives. And this doesn’t always mean new medications.
We’ll take a look at some of the more unorthodox approaches and how they can provide tangible benefits.
Animal Therapy
A recent article from The Express drew attention to a group of unusual visitors to a dementia care home. Residents at the Rosebank care home in Oxfordshire were joined for the day by two penguins.
Taking time out from their lives at Heythrop Zoological Park, the diminutive visitors were extremely popular with residents. Staff got in touch with the park after residents expressed an interest in the flightless birds. Residents were able to hold and play with the penguins, and the exercise was a success.
However, penguins are not the only members of the animal kingdom that can provide real benefits to those with dementia. Dogs and cats – of the young and old variety – have been used in the past to comfort and engage dementia sufferers. It is thought animals serve to alleviate stress, depression and boredom. What’s more, they offer a docile, engaged companion for those who may struggle to interact day-to-day with other people.
Music Therapy
When we hear a certain song, we can’t help but sing along. Even if we haven’t heard it in years, we suddenly find ourselves remembering every word. This is precisely why music therapy has become so popular for those living with dementia.
Age UK is a big proponent of the approach and, increasingly, more and more care homes are embracing this inexpensive, effective treatment.
For someone with dementia, songs from the past can have a remarkable effect on memory and mood. The auditory function of the brain is the first thing to develop in babies and it has been found that we remember songs long into old age, even if it’s been decades since we last heard them. Simply put, humans are made to remember and love music. For someone with dementia, hearing a familiar song can be an uplifting, memory-improving therapy.
Alongside this, performing music, whether singing or using percussive instruments also has positive effects. The Alzheimer’s Society has a programme – Singing for the Brain – set up to deliver singing lessons and activities to dementia care homes across the UK.
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