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Connecting through music to support people living with dementia 

As part of this year’s Dementia Action Week (19-25 May), ARC Dementia Research fellows from across England took part in a National Festival of Applied Dementia Research.

The festival aims to make life better for people concerned about or living with dementia, including family carers, by providing opportunities for people to learn about the latest developments in applied dementia research – work that endeavours to find practical solutions to the practical problems that dementia poses.

As part of his ARC NENC Dementia Research Fellowship, Steven Lyons’ research is exploring how music provides opportunities for residents in care homes to live healthy lives, build relationships and maintain independence and dignity.

Many people living in care homes are at the later stages of dementia and may require alternative methods and support to communicate their needs and preferences. In these setting it is crucial to collaborate in research with carers who know the person well.

As part of his research, Steven collaborated with staff at St Thomas Complex, a care home in South Shields.  Steven and the care home’s activity co-ordinator Leanne worked together to explore how music could help include one particular resident in meaningful activities in the home.

Steven said: “Leanne and I noticed that one particular resident responded to rhythm. When I played music with a clear pulse, he was able to pick up on this and would often respond through improvised singing and yodelling.  We were surprised at first but over the sessions we found this was a great way in to get to know him as he would sing about aspects of his life.”

Leanne, who was present in all the sessions said: “It was nice to see how the music therapist was able to build a meaningful relationship with the resident through playing music.  Taking part in the sessions I feel like I got to know the resident better.  In each session more little pieces of his life came together like a jigsaw.”

After seeing the benefits of the music therapy sessions for this particular resident, Jackie Minchell, home manager of St Thomas Complex, invited Steven to come back to host a workshop for other residents and family members as part of Dementia Action Week.

As part of this event, Dementia Research Fellow James Faraday also shared his research on positive mealtimes in care homes and there were some tasty refreshments provided by the chef at St Thomas Complex.

Jackie said: “The workshop led by Steven and James brought connection – not just for the residents, but the family members and professional staff.  Also, it involved residents who might not otherwise be involved. You could see from their faces, when they were playing the instruments, that it was very meaningful for them.  Family members got to see their loved ones re-connecting with skills. I think some of them were surprised about the level of engagement.”

Steven Lyons is one of five Dementia Research Fellows supported by the NIHR ARC North East and North Cumbria. He works clinically as a Music Therapist across a variety of health and social care settings in the North East including NHS hospitals, residential care homes and community centres.  He is interested in the communication potential of music to engage hard to reach groups, for example people living with advanced dementia, and how to support service users to share their experience of care. His is also interested in the support music therapy practice may offer to carers and colleagues in different care settings.

As a Dementia Research Fellow, his work is exploring how music provides opportunities for people with dementia to live healthy lives, build relationships and help maintain independence and dignity.   He continues to work part-time as a Music Therapist in NHS and social care settings to collaborate with patients, carers and other health care professionals across the region to develop services to address unmet needs.

You can read more about Steven’s work, here.

Linked event: Creative arts for dementia, Wednesday 9 July, 1pm until 2pm, online

This year’s national #ARCseminar series explores the healing power of creative arts.

The next event on 9 July 2025 will explore creative arts for dementia care.

Three short 10-minute talks will explore research on the impact of music therapy, singing and dancing interventions for people with dementia, and using creative arts to involve people with dementia in research.

Register here

Photo: Steven (music therapist), Leanne (activity co-ordinator) and Jackie (home manager)