138 The power of music for dementia, with Grace Meadows

Dementia is not a new topic to the podcast. It is something that I have had various discussions around because I know how much of a concern it is for many people. 52% of people in the UK are affected by this cruel syndrome. But Grace Meadows brings some hope for improving the lives of those living with dementia. Having found a passion for playing the bassoon as a child, Grace went to a music school to train as a professional bassoonist. In doing so she realised her love of music came from interacting with people through it, not from performing it. For the last decade she has worked as a qualified music therapist in a variety of health, social care and educational settings with children and adults of all ages. Grace is currently Campaign Director for Music for Dementia, a national campaign calling for music to be an integral part of care for everyone living with dementia, which is what she’s here to discuss today. In our conversation Grace shares her passion for music and its vast benefits, she explains why and how music connects, and why she believes music is a necessity for people living with dementia.