There is growing evidence that the creative arts, particularly art and music, can have powerful beneficial effects on people’s health and wellbeing, particularly the elderly.

A recent article in the Guardian cited examples, such as the writer’s mother benefiting from singing lessons, and of the soothing effect on a friend’s 90 year-old mother of singing hymns in church on Sundays.

It is thought that even though the ability to speak coherently, organise thoughts and cope with what were previously routine actions may have diminished, the memory of familiar music is not lost from the brain.

An all-party parliamentary group has been exploring the links between the arts, health and well-being and has found that “its unambiguous findings are that the arts can help keep us well, aid our recovery and support longer lives better lived”. It is due to report its findings on Wednesday, July 19, 2017.

Lord Howarth of Newport, co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group, said: “The arts have a vital role to play for people with dementia. Research demonstrates that visual arts, music, dance, digital creativity and other cultural activities can help to delay the onset of dementia and diminish its severity.”

An innovative project on a similar theme is taking place at the Wellcome Centre, a global charitable foundation, set up by medical entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Henry Wellcome to expand knowledge on health and wellbeing by exploring innovative ideas.

Since March 2016 a group has been in residence in The Hub at Wellcome Collection in a £1 million, two-year project to “examine and challenge perceptions of dementia through scientific and creative experimentation”.

The group includes scientists, artists, clinicians, public health experts and broadcasters, led by project director Sebastian Crutch from the UCL Dementia Research Centre.

Care home providers, too, are familiar with the positive effects of providing stimulating creative activities for their residents with dementia or Alzheimers.

This is why we offer a range of regular, from cookery to art classes and reading groups to music, for our residents all designed to cater to their individual interests and personalities.