An innovative new app is triggering musical memories for people with dementia to help them cope with the challenges of daily life.<\/p>\n
The program for mobile devices is being developed with the help of residents at the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham who specialise in providing dementia care.<\/p>\n
The Memory Tracks app is the brainchild of business development expert Gordon Anderson.<\/p>\n
He is working on it with Manchester Metropolitan University\u2019s Stuart Cunningham, who is also a visiting professor of affective computing at Wrexham Glyndwr University, alongside Mark Brill, Senior Lecturer in Creative Advertising, and Harry Whalley, Lecturer in Music Composition and Technology, at the University for the Creative Arts<\/p>\n
Dementia symptoms include memory loss which causes confusion and agitation, and the app aims to help people overcome these challenges posed by the cruel condition by linking their daily tasks to their personal choice of reminiscence music.<\/p>\n
According to Mr Anderson, Pendine Park were the ideal partners for the project because they had championed the use of the arts in social care for more than two decades.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe hope to see a real and measurable improvement in the mood of residents who use the app, and a much happier care environment within the home.<\/p>\n
\u201cInitially care practitioners will play songs on tablets from a list of tracks tailored to the individual resident.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose songs will act as triggers, for example; one song may mean it\u2019s time to get dressed another may mean its medication time or time to eat or exercise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea stems from the fact that music builds long-term associative memories which are often tied to emotions which are proven to be more resilient to loss of other types of memories.<\/p>\n
\u201cDementia results in steady deterioration of the brain function causing a wide range of daily issues for sufferers such as anxiety, disorientation, anger, fear, irritability, depression, and withdrawal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe use of reminiscence music can significantly decrease many of these behaviours and improve the lives of those living with dementia and their carers.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWhen we introduce Memory Track music we hope to see an improvement in the mood of dementia patients. We have built up a large database of songs from the 30s, 40s and 50s. It\u2019s not about trying to find favourite songs but songs that people will instantly recognise.<\/p>\n
\u201cResearch shows that people remember the songs from their early childhood best. It\u2019s as if when they get to their teenage years their interests become more specific or there are perhaps so many it becomes more difficult to remember.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hope is that, in time, the dementia patient will recognise the connection between a particular song and an activity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Cunningham said: \u201cThe initial part of the trial will involve care practitioners observing and recording the moods of dementia patients without any Memory Tracks music being played.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will only know if the app works if we have a base line and know what the mood of residents was before the music was introduced via the app.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe chose Pendine Park care organisation for the trial as I know from my time at Wrexham Glyndwr University that there is a strong connection between the organisation and the arts and particularly music.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know how good care is at Pendine Park and we know how passionate everyone is about the power of the arts. It seemed to us that Pendine Park was a natural partner for the project.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThe further development of Memory Tracks will utilise behavioural or physical triggers and sensors to create a contextual, more immersive user experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe framework is that of song, association and task coming together with the robust emotional association providing the \u2018glue\u2019 between song and task.<\/p>\n
\u201cMemory Tracks is a care platform that provides a personalised selection of music tailored to an individual dementia patient\u2019s routine, their family, carers and needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurther development of Memory Tracks will utilise behavioural or physical triggers to create a contextual, more immersive user experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough these tools we can help those living with Dementia remain more independent in the early stages of the illness and in later stages, to be more connected to their environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe expected impact will be that patients suffer lower anxiety, depression and agitation in addition to making the care process easier. Their Memory Tracks will also serve as a constant connection between the patient and their family, assisting recognition and shared experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
The research at Pendine Park is partly funded by the Consortium for Research Excellence, Support and Training (CREST).<\/p>\n
Sarah Edwards, who has been the artist in residence at Pendine Park for more than 20 years, is working closely with the Memory Tracks team to develop the app and oversee the trial.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cWe are really fortunate to have the opportunity to play a part in this important study. The Memory Track app has huge potential and could open the door to many other areas within the wider care environment or even in mental health.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to seeing how the study develops and witnessing first hand if we can use the Memory Track app to help residents with their daily routine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe this is the perfect project for us to be helping because the arts provide the golden thread that runs through everything we do and led to the setting up of the Pendine Arts and Community Trust which supports artistic endeavour and community groups across North Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are passionate about enriching lives across the generations, for our residents and staff alike.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a sentiment echoed by Cindy Clutton, the manager of Pendine Park\u2019s Hillbury Care Home, who believes the Memory Tracks app and study is an innovative and exciting development.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cWe know our residents get a real lift from music and despite living with dementia many can remember songs from their childhood. We have lots of activities centred on music and I\u2019m fascinated to see how this project will develop.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe project and study couldn\u2019t work without having our care practitioners playing a full and active role and I have to say they are all on board with the study.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have even had staff coming in voluntarily on their days off to learn how the Memory Tracks app works. Staff are eager and enthusiastic about the project and keen to play a part.\u201d<\/p>\n