Music is prescribed as medicine at Christmas

MUSIC is being used as therapy to help dementia sufferers this Christmas.  A playlist of festive songs has been selected using artificial intelligence to  mitigate the effects of sundowning – outbursts of anger and irritation  which occur in the evening.

- Giles Sheldrick

The idea is now being piloted  in a care home after trials suggested it reduced the heart rate in anxious dementia sufferers by up to a quarter.

The music is being made available free to families and care providers at what can be a lonely time of year.

The playlist includes timeless classics like O Holy Night by Nat King Cole,  When A Child Is Born by Johnny Mathis and Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee. The first residential home to trial the music therapy is Orchard Court Care Home in Brigg, Lincolnshire.