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Playlist for Life scheme is being rolled out across north-east

Sally Magnusson founded the Playlist for Life programme in 2013
Sally Magnusson founded the Playlist for Life programme in 2013

It was an initiative which sprung from the determination of BBC broadcaster Sally Magnusson to peek through the veil of dementia which had gripped her mother, Mamie.

And now, the Playlist for Life scheme is to be rolled out across communities in the north-east in the coming months.

The idea was launched by Ms Magnusson in 2013 to improve the lives of people with dementia through the use of personally meaningful music, capable of stirring memories from the past.

It has already brought comfort and a connection between those with dementia and their families to more than 1,400 Scots and the organisers are now expanding it across the country.

Sally Lawton and Yvonne Ouston, who are leading the project in Aberdeenshire, said yesterday that they wanted to encourage people to create their own playlists.

Sarah Metcalfe, the chief executive officer of Playlist for Life, said: “Our vision is that everyone living with dementia has access to a playlist of personally-meaningful music that can improve their quality of life.

“To achieve that, we provide information, support, training and tools to help people understand and use the power of music.


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“In the next four or five months, Sally and Yvonne will be working to raise awareness of the power of playlists and establish Help Points in existing community organisations across Aberdeenshire.

Dr Lawton added: “This will ensure that trained volunteers can help anyone who gets stuck making and using their own playlist.

“Dementia is one of the fastest-growing conditions in Scotland. It has been estimated that 850,000 people in the UK currently have the condition and that number is expected to rise to above two million by 2050.

“Music is neurologically special. It stimulates many parts of the brain at once, particularly those that are the last to be affected by dementia.

“That means that music can get through to people even as other functions deteriorate. The most powerful music is music that has strong personal associations for an individual – the personal soundtrack to your own life.

“And simply listening to that music can bring several therapeutic benefits.”

The help points are drop-in venues hosted by community partner groups, where people can receive additional support to create their Playlist for Life and use it effectively.

A total of 78 organisations have become involved already this year in Scotland and Playlist for Life intends to establish 200 more in the next two years.

Ms Metcalfe said: “We train health and care professionals through our training programmes and accredited care establishment scheme.

“During the last year, we trained 1,876 people and added 40 care homes and NHS wards to our accreditation register.

“We offer a Playlist for Life iOS app, designed with people living with dementia, to make it easy to create a playlist. We are currently building a dementia-friendly online music store.

“We honestly believe that many families will benefit from this and creating a playlist will help a lot of people in the run-up to Christmas.”