Demand surge for dementia-friendly piano recitals

A series of dementia-friendly piano recitals that started in a family home have become so popular the events now need an additional venue to support the programme.

"This has enabled us to show just how valuable music is for people living with dementia," said organiser Cindy Neale, a professional carer, who added she was "thrilled" with how successful the intimate evenings in Warwickshire had become.

She added people were attending from "much further afield" and that younger people with dementia had been among them.

A church is being used as an additional venue for the concerts which began at the Kenilworth home of George Robinson.

Ms Neale said attendance started to increase after the recitals were featured on BBC Radio CWR and BBC Midlands Today.

"I had always hoped it would be successful, but it was a question of how to get the information out," she explained.

She said she realised the power music had to support vulnerable people when she began singing to those she looked after.

"I was astounded by the effect that music had," she said.

"It was not just their mood that improved, it seemed to kickstart their memory and they seemed more articulate afterwards."

The piano recitals then followed, with a regular pianist featuring at the home in Kenilworth, and different people performing at the additional venue of Saltisford Church in Warwick.

"More family members and partners of those who have dementia have started to come along, as well as a larger range of ages, including younger people who have dementia," Ms Neale said.

She added the "shared experience" of the recitals had led to her being "inundated with inquiries from dementia groups, social prescribers and community group leaders".

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