Tag Archives: alzheimers
Therapeutic singing sessions start at Norfolk hospital
Singing is something we can all enjoy
Heather Edwards singing on Elsing Ward.
Monday, August 12, 2013
3:47 PM
Therapeutic singing sessions have begun at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to help older patients with dementia.
The sessions are being delivered on Elsing Ward by a hospital volunteer, who is a qualified music teacher and has been specially trained in dementia awareness.
Heather Edwards is part of a local support group called “Come Singing” which provides singing groups for people of all ages living with dementia.
The music teacher, who has donated a keyboard to the ward, said: “Singing is a wonderful way for people to share emotions and memories. It’s good to encourage patients to sing along and choose songs if they are able, but even a tap of the toes or a nod of the head is a wonderful reward.”
Aromatherapy soothes people with dementia
Lemon Balm extract as a lotion
By Tele management, |
Lemon balm extract is effective in reducing symptoms of agitation in people with dementia, say researchers in the UK.
Agitation – a mixture of restlessness, anxiety and aggression – is all too common among people suffering from dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Often agitation is treated with anti-psychotic drugs, but these have severe side effects. They may, for instance, accelerate mental decline and also make the patient withdrawn.
In a new study, researchers at Newcastle General Hospital in England, have looked at the effect of lemon balm on agitation. They used either a lotion containing lemon balm or a placebo lotion to a group of 72 patients with dementia. The lotion was applied twice a day for four weeks.
£10m for mental health research in East of England
National Institute of Health Research has awarded the grant to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, which is carrying out the research.
It will support projects that make a “difference to people’s lives”.
Two areas it is looking at are dementia and patient safety.
The trust plans to work with the Universities of Cambridge University and the University of East Anglia in Norwich.
