Shared memories through song
Our brains are without a doubt the most fascinating parts of our bodies. Even when they falter. Which they inevitably do, with age. It’s estimated that some 100,000 people in Flanders suffer from dementia, a number that’s expected to rise, given our aging population.
The good news is that care for people with dementia is keeping pace. Caregivers and the medical community have been looking to other fields – like art, heritage and music – to improve the quality of life of people with dementia.
Singing together benefits both dementia patients and caregivers
De Stem van ons Geheugen (The Voice of our Memory) is one such initiative. The project brings together elderly people who face cognitive decline and their caregivers to sing in groups. The idea is that singing together has a range of benefits for both parties.
"Our aim is to make the carers aware of the value and the benefits of singing,” says Koor&Stem project manager Katrien Van Geystelen. “We organise workshops and training and facilitate exchanges between the care sector and the cultural world."
