Mar 18 2021: The sound of music returns as Lost Chord prepares for summer
THE sound of music is set to return as South Yorkshire dementia charity Lost Chord looks forward to a post Covid comeback.
Lost Chord is the organisation that provides vital interactive musical sessions for people living with dementia in care homes and day centres across the region and nationally.
The charity had to stand down its team of young professional musicians as the Covid-19 pandemic took hold and care homes were forced to shut their doors to all visitors.
Since then, the musicians have been continuing to play via a series of extremely successful You Tube performances.
But now the Lost Chord team is looking forward to re-launching its programme of events and returning to live performances in care homes.
“More than 20 years experience has told Lost Chord that music is one of the few things that can actually reach out to people when all other forms of communication have been lost,” said the charity’s Chief Executive, Helena Muller.
''I have personal experience of the impact of music since my husband Franz now has dementia.
“He comes to life when he hears the music of Andre Rieu and afterwards is chatting away.
“It also seems to improve his efforts at walking as he recovers from a hip replacement.
“For the many people who have similar experiences, we are now very excited to be looking forward to getting back to our homes again, though everything we do will continue to be in strict accordance with current government safety guidelines.
“Taking into account current recommendations, we certainly hope that we should be able launch our programme by the summer and in the case of some homes we might even be able to return sooner.
“Obviously, much of what we have planned will be influenced by the success of the national vaccination programme and a continuing fall in infection rates but we are starting to reach out to our homes once more, offering potential dates for a new season, and we hope that they too will reach out to us.
“Anybody who has seen the effect that our young professional musicians have on people with dementia at our many events across the South Yorkshire every month will know just how important music is in communicating with somebody who may have lost all other means of contact with even their closest loved ones.”
To find out more about Lost Chord, its work, how to become involved or to book a session with the Lost Chord musicians visit lost-chord.org.uk or call 01709 811160.
