Understanding the experience of group singing for couples where one partner has a diagnosis of dementia

Purpose of study: There is a continuing interest around the use of group singing in dementia care. Although studies generally indicate positive outcomes, limited research has been carried out from a relational perspective, which places the couple relationship in a central position. This study aimed to better understand how group singing benefits people with dementia and their partners. Design and Methods: Interview data from 17 couples (N = 34) with one member having dementia, who participated in a range of different types of singing groups, were analysed using grounded theory methodology. Results: Five key areas were identified, resulting in the development of the group singing model in dementia for couple dyads. Group singing was experienced as being both joyful and accessible. The accessibility of singing, combined with effective facilitation, created an environment for active participation and enjoyment. The group effect mediated further benefits for the person with dementia and for the caregiver which, when combined, increased benefits for the couple through participation in new experiences. Implications: An opportunity for couples to share in-the-moment creative expression and the positive affect of artistic creation circumventing cognitive impairment is likely to contribute positively to the experience of the relationship. A more refined understanding of shared creative processes in relationship-centred models of care could inform dementia support services. Future research would benefit from longitudinally exploring the links between creativity in couples and relationship resilience

A group singing program improves quality of life: An international study

People with Parkinson’s (PwPs) may experience stigma, isolation, stress and anxiety due to the chronic nature of Parkinson’s. Complementary therapies, including singing, have been reported to impact positively on quality of life (QoL) in PwPs. This paper reports on an international trial of Sing to Beat Parkinson’s®, a community group singing program, involving PwPs from Australia, the UK, and South Korea on QoL and mental well-being. PwPs (N=95; mean age=70.26; male 45%) participated in a standardized 6-month weekly group singing program, which included breathing exercises, vocal warm-ups and preferred song singing. PDQ39 and modified DASS21 were administered at baseline and follow-up to assess QoL and mental well-being, respectively. MANOVA and ANOVAs were performed with significance set as p<.05. MANOVA showed statistically significant multivariate effects of Time, Country, Time by Country and Time by Gender interactions on QoL. Follow-up univariate ANOVAs revealed main effects of Time on Stigma and Social Support domains of QoL; both improved. Further, MANOVA revealed a multivariate effect of Time on mental well-being; anxiety and stress significantly decreased from pre-test to post-test. This first international singing study with PwPs demonstrated that group singing enhanced some aspects of quality of life and mental well-being. Participating in a weekly group singing program for a 6-month period impacted positively on social support, and feeling stigmatized, as well as reductions in anxiety and stress. The findings are encouraging and warrant further research using more robust designs that include comparator groups.I was one of the travel grants recipients and the Health and Social Care Research Centre has supported me to attend this conference. The poster abstract will be published in Journal of Parkinson's Disease

Moving Memory Dance Theatre Company

This article explores the work of the Moving Memory Dance Theatre Company from its inception, to its most recent production Beyond the Marigolds. The company is an all-female ensemble made up of older women whose ages range from 56 to 86 years. It was co-founded in 2010 by University of Kent lecturers and theatre practitioners, Sian Stevenson and Jayne Thompson. The aim then, and now, is to challenge perceptions of the older woman by creating work for conventional theatre stages and public spaces which privileges the ageing female body in performance. In the nine years since its foundation two key features have emerged in the company’s creative approach and performance aesthetic. The first of these is the use of digital technology and projection which has progressively become embedded in the company’s practice, rehearsal and performance, leading to the development of Doris, an interactive technology tool used in the training and outreach programme. The second is the importance of site within the company’s work. Drawing on accounts from the women in the company, the article explores the pop-up performances in public spaces and focusses in particular on their 2017 Gestures of Defiance intervention on the streets of Paris and the impact on the performers sense of self as older women ‘ … we are coming, we are mature women and look out’