This Lockdown has been a massive challenge to people in so many ways. For people living with Dementia at home it has been so difficult because the lifelines of community support stopped and the virtual world is so difficult to understand for people living with Dementia, and how the physical person to person contact is just so important to keep connected.
During the lockdown I was able to do a virtual Memory Choir session for the choir members at Abbotswood Court Care home. It had been 7 weeks since I had seen or heard them, and to say I was so happy to see them is an understatement. We used the video Messenger platform, and although it wasn’t the most perfect solution due to a slight audio delay, it was fabulous to see and hear them singing again. Then sadly the clutches of COVID-19 became even more intense and residents were confined to their floors and at that point could not mix with each other, so the virtual choir had to end.
As lockdown has eased, I am happy to say that I have been able to deliver a couple of Memory Choir sessions to choir members at Andover Nursing Home. It was the most incredible and uplifting moment, to hear them sing the songs they had been rehearsing for a gig prior to lockdown…truly fabulous, and it excites me to think of what we can do when COVID-19 allows us more freedom to do more.
The next step is to be able to get our wonderful community choir members back together singing. They have been particularly isolated whilst they have been in isolation in their own homes, and as soon as I am able, the community Memory Choirs will be up and running again.
Please continue to stay safe and fingers crossed I can share some more positive news next time.
Kim
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