People with dementia in Edinburgh benefit from new music therapy classes

A new music therapy service is helping people living with dementia in the Capital stay happy during lockdown.

Chloe-Rose Hughes, a trained Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered music therapist will run the centre’s new music therapy service.

Research has shown that music therapy can help enhance mood, reduce depression and anxiety and promote relaxation.

It is particularly helpful for people living with dementia, where the use of familiar songs and music has been widely recognised to evoke memories bringing people, places and life events to the forefront of a person’s mind.

This helps to strengthen a person with dementia’s sense of self, who they are and what they have done throughout their life, and can be highly effective for those who can find verbal communication challenging.

The Eric Liddell Centre which provides specialist care for people living with dementia has introduced new music therapy classes to engage with individuals who have become lonely due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

During the pandemic, many of the centre’s services have had to close down or move online leaving people who relied on the centre for social interaction isolated.

The new music therapy sessions will provide individual in-person sessions for people struggling will low mood during lockdown.

Chloe-Rose Hughes, a trained Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered music therapist will run the centre’s new music therapy service.

She said: “Providing music therapy sessions allows the Eric Liddell Centre to support these individuals in a person-centred and creative way, allowing for self-expression, growth of self-confidence and independence, and supports the Centre’s collective ethos of providing ways to keep the mind, body and soul active for all individuals in our community.”

CEO of the Eric Liddell Centre John MacMillan said: “The Music Therapy Service is an addition to the many alternative service arrangements we have put in place to make sure that our clients’ needs are met and their contact with us remains despite the pandemic.

“I’m delighted to welcome Chloe back at my team, with her support and expertise we can give our clients an important opportunity to take part in something new, where they can connect with others and enjoy themselves through music. The feedback already proves the real need and benefits for this key service.”

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