Use music to stimulate language through singing familiar songs

• Video Description

  This video was filmed at Cinnamon Group care homes: Rectory Court, Leah Lodge, Blackheath, London, and Earlsfield Court, Bexhill.

  It shows how singing can help to maintain language in people living with dementia. We see the use of song sheets as well as aural prompts (with someone anticipating the first line of each song).

• Strategies

  • Use familiar songs in regular group sessions to stimulate language

  • Nurture engagement with other residents, staff, visitors, family members and friends through singing together and listening

  • Take into account residents’ ‘critical periods’ when choosing songs. Think carefully about the ideas and events that were prevalent in their teenage years and the language that was used then

  • Encourage staff to use these familiar songs in one-to-one situations and follow up with targeted conversations