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'Singing is my therapy', says woman with dementia

BBC A mother and daughter smiling in the congregation of Leicester CathedralBBC
Evelyn loves to sing songs from the 1950s said her daughter Jane

A Leicestershire woman who is living with dementia has said singing is like therapy to her.

Evelyn Cudworth was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's after her family noticed her memory had started to fail.

Age Concern UK recommended the Leicester Musical Memory Box to help the 85-year-old cope with her diagnosis.

She took part in a special dementia-friendly carol service at Leicester Cathedral on Tuesday and said the music unlocked memories for her and gave her "a buzz".

"I was always in choirs and things like that when I was young. I particularly like the songs from the shows, my favourite is Fiddler on the Roof," she said.

"I like all sorts of musicals, we used to go to London to see them.

"Singing is so therapeutic. It makes you feel good. It's very comforting when they play music from the past.

"It is a good thing for bringing back memories. At my age, 85, it's nice to recollect things and they certainly do that with the music.

"You feel a buzz with it."

The congregation mid-song viewed from above in the vast open space of Leicester Cathedral
A massed congregation took part in a dementia-friendly carol service at Leicester Cathedral

Ms Cudworth's daughter, Jane Flavell, 63, said it was "amazing" to see how much her mum recalls with the help of singing.

"Mum was finding it difficult remembering things like what she had done yesterday and events that were happening, we got the diagnosis that way," she said.

"It's amazing how much she remembers when she sings.

"She's always loved singing. It makes her bright, it gives her a real lift. She loves singing the oldies."

A smiling woman inside Leicester Cathedral with a Christmas tree behind her
Organiser Kyle Newman said music is "magic" for everyone

The mother and daughter were among a group of people who attended the dementia-friendly carol service at Leicester Cathedral.

A similar service was held in Loughborough on Monday while a third event will take place in Market Harborough on Thursday.

Kyle Newman, organiser of the service and leader at Leicester Musical Memory Box, said: "We're not quite a choir but we do make quite a nice noise.

"The power of music, it really is magic. It really affects everyone's mental health in a positive way that attends - not just people that are living with a diagnosis of anything, that means carers, volunteers, leaders, we all benefit positively.

"You can feel down and stressed, but when you work with music the feelgood hormones are released. You can't help it."

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