Music therapy for people living with dementia is not widely available in New Zealand, but a Hamilton-based trust is aiming to change that, and is seeking support to set up another branch in Hawke's Bay.
At present 60,000 people live with dementia in this country. This is expected to reach 170,000 by 2050.
As well as memory loss, symptoms can include anxiety, difficulties with communication, agitation and depression, and music therapy has a big role to play in improving the quality of life, say Music Moves Me Trust founders and national trustees Kath Woodley and Vicki Jones.
They were in Hawke's Bay this week seeking support to set up a branch of Music Moves Me Trust in Hawke's Bay following the formation of the trust in the Waikato in 2015, with another branch opened more recently in Christchurch.
Through the trust, qualified music therapists work with patients in aged-care facilities providing anything from playlists, featuring songs chosen by family members for people to listen to, to interactive music groups or one-on-one sessions.