Emma Jenkins, Dementia Friends Engagement Officer, is passionate about the power of music as a tool for engagement and connection with people living with dementia. Emma’s brother-in-law, Merv, was diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies during lockdown, and music was a huge part of the family’s life together up until Merv sadly passed away in 2023. Here, Emma shares their story.
“When Merv was diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies during lockdown, it was devastating news, but the family wanted to keep Merv, and my lovely sister-in-law Marie as supported and uplifted as possible.
“One way we found to do this was through music. Merv was a huge fan of music but had a penchant for country. Some of my favourite memories of times with Merv revolve around listening to, and talking about, music. Sometimes a song would unlock a memory of a time in his life or would simply make him smile.
“We started to collate a playlist of Merv and Marie’s favourite songs; songs that meant something to them, such as their first dance song, or songs that they enjoyed individually or together. It was a wonderful opportunity to listen to some songs we had forgotten or had never heard of before!
“The difficulty came when Merv tried to access the music, as the modern technology, which would never have phased him previously, became harder for him to use. He would have to ask for others to set the music up for him. We did not have a problem with this, but we wanted to ensure that Merv had musical autonomy and was in control of what he listened to and when he listened to it.
“It was at that point that we discovered the Simple Music Box on Alzheimer’s Society Shop. The functions such as lifting the lid to start the music, and closing the lid to stop it, meant Merv would be in complete control, without having the frustration of not being able to navigate the technology.
“The box came in a number of colours, so we sat with Merv and he decided upon the green, a great choice! Marie then made the purchase, and we all got to work adding songs that meant something to Merv. Elvis, Lynn Anderson, Roy Orbison, Olivia Newton-John, John Denver, Roger Miller, Merle Haggard, Van Morrison, The Dubliners, Tony Bennett, Jim Reeves, Bruce Springsteen and even Ken Dodd.
“In the end we had about 400 songs on the music box, totalling nearly 17 hours of music!
“Merv sadly died in hospital in June 2023. In the last two weeks of his life, he had the music box with him and the hospital staff had music playing through it 24-hours a day, so he had his music and associated memories with him up until the end. This gives us a great deal of comfort.
“Music has a profound benefit for people with dementia, far beyond entertainment value; it provides a key into improving mental health. Music can also be a powerful tool for engagement and connection with individuals living with dementia, and can offer benefits like improved mood, alertness, and social engagement. As a family, we would agree wholeheartedly and are thankful for the music we enjoyed together, and the Simple Music Box, particularly at the end of Merv’s life."
Marie said: “Merv loved that music box and it was a ‘lifeline’ for him to be connected to music he loved. I would highly recommend that box to anyone living with dementia.”
Find out more about the Simple Music Player here.
