SING FOR YOUR LIFE

2005 -

Silver Song Clubs• Delivered by Sing For Your

Life on a model developed by the Sidney De Haan Centre

• Groups of older people meet in community venues to sing and make music - including those with dementia and their carers

• Led by experienced facilitators supported by volunteers

• Currently about 40 groups across S.E. & Northern England, Italy, Finland, Western Canada

RCT 2010• Change in demographics of

the UK • More older people living

with chronic long term health conditions and in social isolation

• Limited research into benefits of singing for older people Only 2 previous trials Formative evaluation of

SSCs by SDH Centre

Trial Design

• Programme devised by SFYL and led by experienced facilitators April-July 2010

• Outcome measures - standardized health questionnaires Primary measure York SF-12 Secondary measures HADS, EQ-5D, Service Use

Questionnaire• Measured at baseline, post-intervention and 6 month

follow-up• Participant comments invited

Findings from Questionnaire Analysis (1)

• At 3 months sig. greater improvement in mental health related quality of life in intervention group (p<0.01)• At 6 months, sig. greater improvement in mental health related QOL in intervention group (p=0.05)

Findings from Questionnaire Analysis (2)

• At 3 months lower anxiety scores in intervention group(p<0.01)

Findings from Questionnaire Analysis (3)

• Cost-effectiveness Combines costs of interventions with QALY changes Singing group cost more but also greater QALY gain. Singing groups cost effective if willing to pay

>£14,000 per QALY NICE estimates QALY value £20,000-£30,000 Probability of cost-effectiveness favours singing

groups

Participant feedback

“I started my participation in this project just after I retired from work and feeling a little anxious about future life. This project has been instrumental in showing me there

is life after ‘work’”

Conclusion

Singing groups for older people appear to have a benefit in terms of mental health.Singing groups may be a cost-effective health promotion strategy for this population

SING FOR YOUR LIFE

A new focus…

The Prime Minister’s Challenge On Dementia -

the call

Delivering major improvements in Dementia care and research by 2015.

Improve care in the community to support independent living.

Our response…Our response…

A SONG A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY!

Group participatory singing can…

•Provide Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) •Help reduce social isolation•Be delivered whether living in:

Community Assisted Living CentresResidential Care Homes

Our challenge is…

How can we all help?

Silver Song Music Box System

• Participatory Singing Programmes available on demand

• Easy to operate - Plug in and play!• No formal musical training required• Themed and personalised programmes

• Improved behaviour - reduced need for use of antipsychotic drugs

SING FOR YOUR LIFE

power of musicn