Knowledgeable Aging

Resources for the Aging Population

The Magic of Music for People with Dementia

Meaningful music has the power to bring people with dementia alive.   I saw this for myself the day before my mum died when, though barely with us (she was in the advanced stages of the condition; constantly sleeping, immobile) the sounds of Christmas carols she’d known and loved since a child touched something deep inside her.  A connection was made and she opened her eyes – it was immensely moving.

After mum’s death I came to learn more about music’s incredible effect on those with dementia, through books such as Sally Magnusson’s Where Memories Go, charities such as Playlist for Life, Music for Dementia and Lost Chord, through meeting individuals whose own lives had been enhanced by music and through learning about the neurological reasons why music has such a profound impact on those with the condition.

In this webinar, Jason and I discuss these key factors and I explain why I’ve become so passionate about ensuring those with dementia have access to music and songs that hold memories and meaning for them, and training carers to understand and use this information.


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Listen to the Podcast

  • 1:11 – Personal story of my mum with dementia and magic of music
  • 4:32 – Role of music in quality of life for those with dementia
  • 9:48 – My mission or goal with dementia and music
  • 16:37 – Social prescribing and what is happening in the UK
  • 20:38 – Music for loved ones before dementia progresses
  • 24:36 – My passion of dementia/music and my podcast
Pippa Kelly

PIPPA KELLY is one of the UK’s foremost writers on dementia.  An award-winning blogger and journalist, she hosts the highly successful dementia podcast Well I Know Now and speaks regularly on elderly care and dementia.  Her haunting novel, Invisible Ink, which has a small but significant dementia thread based on her late mother, was published in 2016.  You can read her blog https://pippakelly.co.uk/, listen to her podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/well-i-know-now/id1513600445

Learn More


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