We are thrilled to highlight the stories of two of our latest supporters, each taking on a fundraising challenge to help raise awareness and funds for Music for my Mind.
Continue readingLatest fundraising challenges.
Dementia Care and Music – News update
The National Campaign Music for Dementia 2020 has launched the first ever online Musical Map for Dementia. The idea is to have one centralised platform with information of all music-based activities and services nationwide, for people living with dementia, in order to improve their dementia care.
Continue readingSosei Heptares and Music for my Mind Partnership
We are delighted to announce the Sosei Heptares and Music for my Mind partnership. Sosei Heptares is a company aiming to make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life and health of people around the world, by discovering, designing and developing innovative and effective medicines, through its world-leading patent-protected technology and platform.
Continue readingVitality 10K 2019 – Music for My Mind
Music For my Mind had their very first running fundraiser which I was honoured to be part of. Music has been a big part of the training. Some tracks can inspire, some bring back lovely memories…
Continue readingLondon Vitality 10K
If you love a challenge, or know someone who is ready for an adventure, look no further. Music for My Mind is happy to announce that we have places for this year’s Vitality 10K in London, which takes place on 27th May.
Continue readingNational Lottery Community Fund Grant Award
We are delighted to announce that our charity has received a grant award from the National Lottery Community Fund!
Continue readingUtilising technology in dementia care
Recent technological developments from the field
As a technology-driven charity, we are excited when we read about all the technological advancements being implemented in the health system and into care, particularly for people living with dementia. We believe that utilising existing technology pieces to improve the quality of life for people with dementia is what the future of care should be.
We’d like to share with you some notable news stories from this field.
– According to the Business Insider, the market for tech products for ageing Baby Boomers is expected to reach $20 billion by 2020. Digital technology is becoming more and more accessible to older people and no longer only aimed at benefiting younger users. Some of the technologies highlighted in the article include robot companions, smart speakers, location trackers, on-demand care service and life-like pets.
Read the full story here: https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-products-for-aging-baby-boomers-patients-with-dementia-2019-1?r=UK.
– It’s been known that reminiscence therapy has many beneficial effects for people with dementia. The ability to immerse yourself in a familiar place and relive precious memories, is exactly what Dorset-based care and support provider Tricuro offers to people with dementia, through Virtual Reality. Day Service Officer Mika Davis said: “When you’ve got a disability, particularly like dementia it closes so many doors and I don’t think people’s pasts should be one of those doors that’s closed.” This experience also allows for a closer connection and bonding between the care home staff and their residents.
For the full story: https://www.wessexfm.com/news/dorset-news/2791314/how-vr-techs-helping-dorset-dementia-patients-share-their-pasts/.
– The power of new technology has also been harnessed in research and diagnosing early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. A research at the University of California San Francisco is working with artificial intelligence to detect very subtle changes in levels of specific molecules in the brain, surpassing the time a clinical diagnosis can be made by six years. “One of the difficulties with Alzheimer’s disease is that by the time all the clinical symptoms manifest and we can make a definitive diagnosis, too many neurons have died, making it essentially irreversible,” says Jae Ho Sohn, MD, MS, a resident in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at UC San Francisco. This new method can help diagnosing Alzheimer’s early on, giving the possibility to administer treatments that can help stem the condition’s progression.
For the full story, click here: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2018/12/412946/artificial-intelligence-can-detect-alzheimers-disease-brain-scans-six-years.
What’s in store for 2019 – looking ahead
Achievements and visions
What have we achieved so far and what we plan to, looking ahead in 2019. The past year has been an inspiring and exciting one for Music for my Mind, filled with incredible support from so many people. Our journey and key milestones so far have included conducting pilot studies in care homes, assembling an influential and highly skilled group of Trustees, staff, advisors and during 2018 – gaining over 350 supporters.
We have developed important partnerships with a range of organisations and individuals who can help us, in the last year most importantly with Quantum Care – a group of care homes excited about innovation and use of technology to improve the quality of life of their residents.
Over the past year we have also been fortunate enough to expand our team and welcome a full-time Project Assistant, Dimana Georgieva. We also have the vital support and advice of many experienced consultants in strategy, fundraising, marketing and technology development.
Looking ahead
With all these achievements, we are raring to go to dive into another year of this exciting journey. Looking ahead, our main activities in 2019 will focus on research and further technology development.
Research:
In 2019 we will be undertaking the first phase of social science/mixed methodology research to explore issues such as:
- a systematic review of the literature on music and dementia;
- a favourite songs review by age in non-dementia populations.
- demography in care homes, including
§ stages and severity of dementia,
§ the proportion of residents with relatives and how often they visit,
§ who has power of attorney?
§ drugs being prescribed
§ music and other activities currently being used
We are working on our programme of feasibility studies and accompanying protocols, including consideration of appropriate levels of ethics review. Through this programme, we will explore some key operational questions such as the frequency, timing and length of use of personalised music, impact on sleep or wellbeing, etc.
Product development:
Our other main are of focus throughout the year is to continue developing a tool for creating and delivering personalised playlists that can easily be used and implemented in care homes. During 2019 we aim to draw up the specification for an app to enable rapid creation of personalised playlists, using existing music delivery services (such as Spotify) and based on people’s musical and behavioural background. This involves a lot of tests and versions, to reach a product that will work best within a range of care settings.
Alongside these two main areas of activity, we will continue to raise awareness about the effects of personalised music for people living with dementia, through different campaigns and initiatives throughout the year. We will also keep our stakeholders and supporters informed of relevant news in this area and other relevant technological or therapeutic advancements.
We at Music for my Mind hope to get much closer in 2019 to our vision for every care home in Britain to have a music programme and for everyone living with dementia to benefit from personalised music as an integral part of the therapy and care they receive.
To support our app development, visit our crowdfunding page to donate.
Music for my Mind is hiring!
Job Title
Full-time or Part-time Clinical Research Assistant/ Associate – Dementia
Reports To
Chair/Chief Executive of Music for my Mind
Job Overview
Music for my Mind is a new and timely charity aiming to bring personalised music playlists to people living with dementia. Although people with dementia may not be able to communicate with or recognise loved ones, amazingly they may still be able to sing along to favourite music from their teenage years. There are estimated to be 850,000 families affected by dementia in Britain, 50 million worldwide.
To date, the charity has been operating on a volunteer basis with a committed and well-connected Trustee Board. The success of our crowdfunding campaign indicates the breadth of public empathy for dementia and we have recently received Research Ethics Committee approval to proceed with our study. We have raised sufficient funds to recruit a team member for one of our highest priority positions – to seek to provide robust evidence through clinical studies that personalised music enhances the quality of life and well-being of people living with dementia, their carers, and family and that favourite music can change lives.
About the role
This post holder will work with the Founding Chairman of the Board who lives in Hertfordshire, supported by a Project co-ordinator. The Trustees are committed to building the evidence base that listening to personalised music playlists enhances well-being and quality of life for families affected by dementia. The long-term goal is to test the efficacy and cost effectiveness of this intervention for dementia in a large clinical trial.
Working closely with the Chair, you will deliver the small scale clinical studies with dementia patients in selected care homes to monitor the emotional and physiological impact of personalised music. You will compile personalised music playlists for residents living with dementia, with the help of their family members or carers. You will then test delivery methods of the playlists to residents in an attempt to improve well-being, particularly during stressful situations/ times. You will be organising and leading focus group discussions and interviews with residents, carers, and loved ones. You’ll be further involved in the analysis of subsequent data, both quantitative and qualitative, and contribute to the dissemination of findings across the wider community.
You will have a strong, demonstrable background in qualitative research as a social scientist, occupational therapist or psychologist with a strong interest and experience in musical interventions, or as a music therapist or musicologist with experience of clinical research, ideally working with older people. You will have knowledge of the concepts of clinical research and Good Clinical Practice, and have excellent communication, relationship management, and organisational skills and meticulous documentation and record keeping abilities. You will have a passion for music and an excellent understanding of and empathy with the practical needs, concerns and health of people participating in research (ideally of people living with dementia) and their families and care givers.
Music for my Mind is an important new initiative and this position creates a fabulous opportunity for someone who wants to make a massive positive impact on many people’s lives.
Location
Having a valid driving license and access to a vehicle is essential as you will be required to travel between care homes in the Hertfordshire/ Bedfordshire/ Essex area.
Remuneration
Salary to be discussed – initially a 1 year fixed term contract. Probationary period of 3 months
Hours
We will consider full time (37.5 hours per week) or part time – to be worked flexibly as required.
To apply: please send your CV to our email – contactmfmm@gmail.com or apply through Indeed.com.
Music for my Mind is expanding the team
*Update: this job opportunity is now expired
Head of Strategy and Development
12 months Fixed Term initially
£30,000-£35,000 depending on experience
St Albans area, Hertfordshire
Music for my Mind is a new and timely charity aiming to bring personalised music playlists to people living with dementia. Although people with dementia may not be able to communicate or recognise loved-ones, amazingly, they may still be able to sing along to favourite music from their teenage years. There are estimated to be 850,000 families affected by dementia in Britain, 50 million worldwide.
To date the charity has been operating on a volunteer basis with a committed and well-connected Trustee Board. The current crowdfunding campaign indicates the breadth of public empathy for dementia. We have raised sufficient funds to recruit for our highest priority position – to lead on strategic development and fundraising for the charity.
About the role:
This post will work with the Founding Chairman of the Board, who lives in Hertfordshire, supported by a part-time Project assistant. The Trustees are committed to building the evidence base that listening to personalised music playlists enhances well-being and quality of life for families affected by dementia. The long-term goal is to test the efficacy and cost effectiveness of this intervention for dementia in a large clinical trial.
Working closely with the Chair and board of trustees, you will provide and deliver the long-term strategic plan and budget to develop the Music for My Mind Charity. You will drive fundraising opportunities, including making grant applications, and manage donors to ensure a sustainable income to deliver the long term strategic plan.
You will work closely with Playlist for Life, Edinburgh University, and other like-minded organisations to deliver the goal of making personalised music available to everyone living with dementia.
Ideally you will have a proven track record of strategic planning and delivery, and of securing funding in a tough and complex financial climate in a senior management or strategy development role in the charity or university sector. You will have extensive experience in financial management and budget development, be a confident communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills, and relationship management abilities.
Music for my Mind is an important new initiative and this position creates a fabulous opportunity for someone who can make a massive impact on many people’s lives.
You can read the full Job Description below. To apply, please send your CV and Cover Letter to contactmfmm@gmail.com.
Closing date: July 1st 2018
View Job on Charity Jobs: https://bit.ly/2sw9zuY
Job Title
Head of Strategy and Development – Music for my Mind Charity
Reports To
The Head of Strategy and Development will report to the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Music for my Mind
Job Overview
Working closely with the Chair and board of trustees, provide and deliver the long-term strategic plan and budget to develop the Music for My Mind Charity. Ensure appropriate standards are in place and compliance with the law and regulations.
Drive fundraising opportunities, including making grant applications, and manage donors to ensure a sustainable income to deliver the long term strategic plan
Work closely with Playlist for Life, Edinburgh University and other like-minded organisations to deliver the goal of making personalized music available to everyone living with dementia
Responsibilities and Duties
- Provide the long term strategic plan and budget to develop Music for My Mind within the direction set by the Chair and Board of Trustees and gain Board approval
- Develop and secure fundraising opportunities to ensure a sustainable income to further the charity’s goals
- Prepare the annual plan and annual budget for approval by the board of trustees and drive delivery of the fundraising plan and agreed financial targets
- Responsible for the financial health of Music for My Mind, management of the budget and finances
- Act as an ambassador with external stakeholders in order to advance the charity’s aims
- Responsible for management of marketing, communication and charity administration
- Regular attendance at Board meetings and supply regular reports to Music for My Mind trustees and to other collaborators
- Ensure the organization has the right management systems and structures in place to carry out its work effectively, safely, and professionally and to fulfil its legal, statutory and regulatory responsibilities
- Take appropriate steps to manage risks that could significantly impact Music for My Mind
Qualifications and Experience
- Degree or equivalent
Competencies
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:
- Commitment to the aims and ethos of Music for My Mind
- A proven track record of long term strategic planning and delivery in a senior management or Strategy Development role in a charity or university
- A proven track record of securing funding for a charity or university in a tough and complex financial climate – including experience of making grant applications
- Excellent experience in financial management and budget development skills
- Excellent writing skills
- Ability to communicate the strategic plan
- Excellent all-round communication skills and relationship-management abilities
- Personal drive and a positive, optimistic outlook, energy, integrity, creativity and imagination, adaptability and responsibility
- An understanding of key health and dementia issues
- An understanding of marketing and PR
- An understanding of the voluntary and community sector in the UK and the issues it faces
- A working understanding of digital media platforms
Location
- Working from home, based in the south east with easy access to Redbourn and the St Albans area. Frequent travel required to Redbourn and other parts of Hertfordshire and London
- Occasional travel in the UK
Remuneration
Salary range £30-35k in the first instance – initially a 12 months fixed term contract
Hours
37.5 hours a week – can be worked flexibly from home. In practice may be longer as individual expected to attend networking and campaign events outside office hours