"Very much enjoyed dancing at the party"

I am writing this about the dementia choir at Ashby link my mother has attended since November 2024.

Since first bringing her I have noticed that it is the one area of her life where she is improving. Our experience of Alzheimer’s is a disease of slow loss of ability in virtually every aspect of life but this is the one area that bucks the trend.

On our first visit my mother only mumbled and struggled to keep up with the words in the songs (after initially claiming that she didn’t know them) but now she visibly reacts with joy when she realises that some of them are popping into her head unbidden. She very much enjoyed dancing (shuffling) at the Christmas party recently.

The organisers -especially Ms Gouldthorpe- are very kind and welcoming and my mother enjoys the acceptance shown by everyone in the room - patients, carers and staff alike.

Thank you for this service. Please keep it going.