Hertfordshire to pioneer the use of music to transform dementia care – InYourArea

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Using the power of music to transform dementia care in your area
By NOTICEBOARD · 30 April 2025
IN TUNE: Music has been proven to help those with dementia communicate
Hertfordshire has been selected as the second location for the creation of a Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia.
Funded by the National Academy for Social Prescribing’s ‘Power of Music Fund’ this pioneering initiative will use the power of music to transform dementia care across the county, improving the lives of thousands of people living with the condition and upskilling care staff to integrate music into everyday practice.
Led by Age UK Hertfordshire, in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Care Providers Association (HCPA) and Music24 the project will develop and deliver a comprehensive training programme for care professionals.
The goal is to create Music Champions within 100 care homes, training 6,000 staff to embed therapeutic music techniques into dementia care, benefiting approximately 5,800 residents over the funded period.
Music has been proven to help people with dementia communicate, reduce anxiety and depression, improve self-esteem, stimulate memory, and reconnect with their cultural identity.
This initiative will create personalised music experiences for residents by considering their musical preferences and histories.
Care staff will also be trained in various techniques, including passive and active music listening, singing and playing instruments, talking about music and encouraging reminiscence, and dancing and movement—based engagement.
The training programme will be co-produced with experts, care staff, and people living with dementia, ensuring it meets real-life needs and creates lasting impact.

Music24, a local charity specialising in music therapy, will lead the training development alongside HCPA, drawing on expertise from organisations such as Herts Musical Memories, Music for My Mind, and the Hertfordshire Music Service.
To ensure sustainability, the programme will establish a Music Champion’s Network, providing ongoing peer support and professional development for trained staff.
The initiative will also be evaluated in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire and Hertfordshire County Council Public Health, ensuring robust data collection to measure the long-term impact on staff confidence, resident wellbeing, and care home culture.
Sarah Perman, director of public health at Hertfordshire County Council, said: „Through this project, Hertfordshire is set to lead the way in embedding music into dementia care on a large scale, influencing both local and national approaches.
„The Centre of Excellence will not only support care homes but also eventually extend training opportunities to community groups, mental health services, and hospices, ensuring that more people can benefit from the life-changing power of music.“
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