Are you aware that Dementia affects about 1/3 of Australians over 85 years old and increasing (ref 1.) and is the second leading cause of death in Australia?

Song and music has the magical power to improve memory and help alleviate dementia!  (ref 2)

Please take a moment to share my SingwithFred journey via the video below

Hello elders or carers, have you noticed any of the following problems?

  • Being lonely?

  • Lack of connection with loved ones?

  • Feeling sad?

  • Memory problems?

  • And worried about dementia?

Singwithfred aims to assist fellow elders in using song/music to foster memory connections prior to dementia.

The programme allows the Elder to produce a unique playlist helped by their carer or loved one.

This can also facilitate therapy if dementia occurs in the future.

THE PROGRAMME

Participants are invited to join an online group on zoom or in a location such as a Care Home.

Below are some examples from a previous zoom session with their songs

A letter to my mother

Country roads

Don’t fence me in

Cameroon family song

Keep Me Right on the End of the Road

During the online group or zoom -

  1. The elder chooses the song which is sung or hummed at the meeting. This is facilitated by a list of likely songs according to important life events and popular music of the relevant decade.

  2. The Elder then with help indicates why that song was important, linking it to memory according to person, date, place, emotion and/or event.

  3. This is recorded with permission and used by the Elder to modify as required.

  4. At the next meeting, the Elder prepares a series of songs which are handled as before to provide a playlist.

  5. The convener in concert with the Elder organises the playlist to create a database, which is shared with their loved ones