This is the moment a nan with dementia finds joy in singing her old favourites.
Joan Horton, 90, was taken out on a drive by Aimee at Smile TLC, where they played some of her favourite songs in order to brighten her mood. Smile TLC, based in Liverpool and Wirral, is a company that offers dementia care for patients and families of those affected by the disease.
It holds events where dementia patients can listen to music in order to calm them and improve their moods. The company was set up by Aimee Carson in 2017, who was inspired by a family friend who worked in dementia. Now with 19 staff, Aimee, along with Adam Coburn, expanded over to Wirral.
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Amiee said: “Joan has been coming to the events we hold since 2017, but we started one-to-one support for her and her family earlier this year. Her husband isn’t here anymore but she has three children.”
Joan is a fan of days out, as well as sessions where she can listen to her favourite music. In the video clip, Joan is shown to be responding happily to the music, which she recognises, and it brightens her mood considerably.
Amiee continued: “We want to create a warm and welcoming environment that is normal for people. Singing is something a person living with dementia might have done years ago and we want to bring it back into their lives now.”
Smile TLC sets up one-to-one support for patients and families in order to ease the stress of their daily lives. Aimee stressed the company is keen to make sure its clients and their families trust them.
She said: “People need respite where they can build a trusting relationship with the affected person and their family, and encourage them to live their life.”
Joan is now supported seven days a week by Smile TLC, and is known by everybody there as “the loveliest person.”
Aimee added: “Sometimes people with dementia can lose the ability to communicate but music never goes. People will come and music brings out so much happiness. [Music] uplifts us all.”
Aimee was eager to share a message that sums up her experience working for Smile TLC. “Anybody can get dementia. The person was once living their life like you and I. I want to make sure that we care about people.”
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