Wellingborough dementia choir attendees leave with 'spring in step'

Sandy Hackett, who cares for Michael Litchfield, said the choir was his highlight of the week

People with dementia and their carers said singing sessions with a special choir provided the highlight of their week and helped fight memory loss.

The Dementia Sings Out group meets at a church in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and often invites musicians to play for the singers.

A gospel choir joined this week for a Christmas party.

One of the attendees said: "It helps [me] socialise and meet new people that you can call friends."

The dementia choir meets at a local church

Sandy Hackett, 80, lives a few doors down from Michael Litchfield, who is six years older.

She cooks meals for him, alternating between her house and his, and generally cares for him.

She also makes sure he does not miss his weekly date with the dementia choir.

"We love coming. Everybody is so friendly," said Ms Hackett.

"It's the best day of the week for us.

"He rings me on a Thursday morning and starts singing the songs that we sing, he's so excited about coming."

Mr Litchfield is unable to indulge in his other favourite hobby, golf, as he has a problem with his ankle, but the singing gives him something to look forward to.

"It helps [me] socialise and meet new people that you can call friends," he said.

"I always sing, I love it on a Thursday morning."

Valda Williams said the singing sessions were "very invigorating"

Another attendee, Valda Williams, said: "It's very invigorating. Sometimes, you feel a bit down, it lifts you up."

In fact, the singing does not stop when she gets home. "I sit in my sitting room and sing my heart out," she said.

Meanwhile, Maurice McGinn is 74 and used to be a mortgage advisor.

He has trouble with his memory nowadays, but belting out familiar songs has a positive impact.

"You can't beat it. I love singing, it helps my memory, certainly," he said.

"I like the Bee Gees - once the music starts, it all comes back to me."

A trustee of Dementia Sings Out, Ruth Bowe, said the singers "live for that hour of joy"

Ruth Bowe, one of the trustees of Dementia Sings Out, said: "We get 80 to 100 people here every week.

"They remember all the words of Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey, and they literally leave with a spring in their step.

"Even if some of them might not have remembered they've been here, they live for that hour of joy."

Between 80 and 100 people attend each session of the Dementia Sings Out choir