Kate Torkington - Play List for Life Thursday 2 December 2021 @ 18.00 for 18.30 @ Westlands or 19.15 for 19.30 on Zoom

PLAYLIST

Over the years, writers have attributed various capabilities to music, whether it be to “soothe the savage breast” or to be the “food of love”.  When her mother, Mamie, developed dementia, Sally Magnusson discovered, largely by accident, that singing songs that her mother had enjoyed in her youth, or they remembered singing together, had an ability to calm her and help uplift her spirits.  When words were deserting her, singing along unlocked her memory and had the ability to help bring her back to a sense of herself.  It also provided a key to unlocking and renewing their relationship.  Seeking to develop this obvious power of music, Sally created a personalized playlist made up of the songs to which her mother responded most positively. Then recognising the beneficial potential that a playlist could have for all those living with dementia, Sally decided that she should encourage others to use this approach.  From this emerged the charity Playlist for Life, founded by Sally in 2013.

On Thursday, Kate Torkington, a volunteer speaker for Playlist for Life, spoke to the Club about the origins of the charity and its subsequent development.  Its fundamental goals, she said, are to raise general awareness of the potential benefits of creating and using a music playlist; to set up and train a community network of health and care professionals, care homes and volunteers; and to establish community Help Points across the UK.  Given that there is estimated to be 850 thousand people living with dementia, the importance of this work can be appreciated.  Supported by money from the National Lottery, Kate reported that the charity has made great strides with 1,000 Help Points already established in libraries and other local venues.

Kate emphasised the extraordinary capability of a playlist of music that is meaningful to those concerned – the soundtrack of their life – to help reconnect and reunite them with their loved ones.  As well as restoring a sense of self, it can be extremely effective in helping to manage and calm agitation and isolation.  In a recent study, its beneficial affect was also shown to have the ability to reduce dependency on drugs.

Playlist’s vision is that every person with dementia should have access to a unique personalised playlist, and everyone who loves and cares for them should know how to use it to make living with the condition easier and happier.  Helpful resources are available from www.playlistforlife.org.uk.

Ivor Butchart expressed the Club’s thanks to Kate for a fascinating insight into the ability of music to transform the lives of those living with dementia.