Current Research

The number of people with dementia is steadily increasing. The Alzheimer’s Society believes that careful planning for the future is needed now to ensure that the right care and support is available.

The Alzheimer’s Society report “Dementia UK: second edition”, published in September 2014 shows that in 2013 there were 815,827 people with dementia in the UK.   If current trends continue and no action is taken, the number of people with dementia is set to rise to over 1 million by 2025. This will soar to 2 million by 2051.

70 per cent of people in care homes have dementia or severe memory problems.

people-in-the-uk-with-dementia

A recent research initiative, funded and commissioned by the Baring Foundation, explored how music and singing can feature regularly in care homes across the country. It was a unique collaboration between 30 leading national organisations from adult social care, music and academic research, led by Live Music Now, Sound Sense and Canterbury Christ Church University.

Their findings were published in May 2016. Care Home Managers will be particularly interested to read the Working Paper 11 which looks at two specific health agencies – the Care Quality Commission and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – and the role they might play in encouraging music making in care homes.