Trust helps orchestra achieve Dementia Friendly status
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust has helped the renowned Hallé Orchestra become a Dementia Friendly Organisation.
The Hallé took part in a Dementia Awareness Training day under an initiative developed by the Alzheimer’s Society.
The training involved a one-hour session, in which both musicians and organisational staff in the orchestra participated.
The aim of the training is to make more people in organisations across the UK aware of the issues of dementia and the ways in which they can help, in order to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.
Gill Drummond, Clinical Improvement Lead Nurse for Dementia and Older People at GMMH, led the sessions. She said: “The Halle do some fantastic work for people living with dementia.
“We’re delighted to be able to offer the musicians and staff at the Halle Dementia Friends some training, so they can become a Dementia Friendly organisation.
“Music can be a really powerful way of soothing, stimulating and bringing back memories for people living with dementia. GMMH is committed to delivering Dementia Friend Awareness sessions to key services and businesses across our patch.
“By helping create dementia friendly communities we can help people living with dementia feel understood, valued and able to contribute to their communities.”
The Hallé’s Education Director Steve Pickett said:
“I am delighted that our whole organisation can become Dementia Friendly. This is so important for us all at the Hallé and we very much look forward to developing closer ties with GMMH so that in the future we can bring our music and experience in this sector to the region.”
