To suggest that if you have a parent (or elderly relative) who is showing signs of dementia

[Ocean59]

To set up a library of their favourite songs on Spotify (or Amazon or whatever) as soon as possible.

My parent sometimes can't remember their grandchildren's names but this anfternoon remembered every word to their favourite Shirley Bassey song and that I lost a tooth at her concert when we went to see her in 1973!

Music is amazing, it can spark so many memories at a time when they are being wiped away so fast.

There are some organisations involved in this https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/ and https://www.musicfordementia.org.uk/about-us/

We had a talk at our church from the second organisation, they were advocating that everyone should make a playlist of their own and we came away with paper copies to place with important paperwork.

You are so right.

Late DMIL had dementia. I remember one day we took her out and there was a steam barrel organ playing tunes. She was mostly bewildered at this point but she recognised the tunes ane began to sing along.

Some time later, when she was really quite deep in her dementia, DH was looking after her one day while DFIL was having a medical procedure. He put Classic FM on in the car and a popular opera aria came on. He was astonished that she not only sang along but sang the Italian lyrics.

I hadn't heard of those organisations, thank you.

My DM’s dementia care home had a ‘musical bingo’ game. Players had big cards and there was a CD with short sections of very well known old songs, hymns, carols, etc.

They would almost invariably be familiar with every one - but would still need help to put a counter in the right place on the board.

Sadly my DM was well past being able to enjoy or participate in any such thing, but it was very popular with the less advanced residents.