Dementia and learning

Isabelle Adams introduces the Singing With Friends choir.

The video demonstrates not only how the group provides a regular opportunity for people living with dementia and their friends and family to jointly engage in in-the-moment experiences, but also how people living with dementia can retain a capacity to learn.

The choir challenges the often preconceived ideas about what people living with dementia are either able or unable to achieve.

As music leader in the group, Issy explains the factors which she feels are critical in helping the choir go from strength to strength, and how the organisation of the Singing With Friends choir differs from other choirs which do not openly invite people living with dementia.

How important do you think it is for somebody living with a dementia to be given the opportunity to continue to learn and acquire new skills? Share your thoughts in the comments.

CREDITS We would like to thank James Berry/ Wigmore Hall for providing the supplementary images for this video.