Residents at a Barnet care home were able to share in the wide recognition of World Alzheimer's Day with a chance to enjoy a special performance by the north London community group "Singing for the Brain".
Carlton Court Care Home in Bells Hill, which specialises in dementia care, hopes the event will encourage visits by other community groups to strengthen residents’ links with the locality.
George Bacon, Carlton Court’s business development manager, says it is important for the residents to remain a key part of the local community and for the home to be recognised as a place which local people can depend on.
“Singing for the Brain” is a singing group established Alzheimer’s UK which aims to bring together through song people living with dementia or affected by it.
David Tims, who runs the north London group alongside Syeda Bukhari, and who made an exception to perform at Carlton Court, was delighted with the level of engagement by the residents.
“It was great to see everyone getting involved, no matter what their capability.”
Residents were able to sing along to the music and they had a great time according to one resident Ruth who said that while she was not the best at singing, they all “gave it a good go and had a lot of fun”.
World Alzheimer’s Day is part of World Alzheimer’s Month which has the aim of raising dementia awareness and supporting people affected by the disease.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society it is the UK’s forgotten disease, and the society is encouraging events aimed at taking the stress of being affected by dementia out from behind closed doors.
Mr Bacon said the care team at Carlton Court loved the opportunity to join with the residents in enjoying the performance.
“It has been great to work with Syeda and David from ‘Singing for the Brain’ and hopefully this will encourage more community groups to come into care homes and allow all the residents to have a voice within their community.
“The residents not only loved singing along to the music, but they also greatly enjoyed meeting all the people from the community that came to show their support for Carlton Court and recognise World Alzheimer’s month.”
