Healthy ageing and dementia

CIMTR's healthy ageing and dementia research theme aims to support the development of strategies, methods, tools and technologies to enhance support and care for older people, people affected by dementia, and their care companions.

In 2021, ARU won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for innovative work in music therapy with a focus on the wellbeing of people with dementia and influencing policy at community and national level.

This includes CIMTR’s contributions to the Music for Dementia Commission in the House of Lords in 2018, and to the introduction of music therapy into the NICE guidelines for dementia in 2019.

Current projects

Two older people playing percussion instruments in a session with a music therapist playing a guitar with her back to the camera

Research project

HOMESIDE

The HOMESIDE trial investigated the impact of music and reading interventions for people living with dementia and their caregivers in the community.

RadioMe

RadioMe aims to develop real-time radio remixing for people with mild to moderate dementia who live alone, incorporating agitation reduction and diary reminders

MELODIC

MELODIC aims to co-design a new intervention in order to investigate how music therapy can reduce distress on NHS inpatient wards for people with dementia.

Together in Sound

Together in Sound is a partnership with Saffron Hall, Essex, that offers free interactive music therapy groups for those living with dementia and their companions.