NEWS RELEASE

Vocal Vitality is absolutely thrilled to be exhibiting for the first time at the Alzheimer’s Show 2017, and we are very excited to be bringing you something rather different! We are launching two products - our Singing & Reminiscence Programmes, which are a new way to deliver a singing activity to those living with dementia, and our innovative Singing for Seniors Leader Course.

However it’s not just all about singing for us, even though we know this has an incredibly positive impact in itself. We have found a way to enrich the experience even further, and have designed a programme that promises a journey of reminiscence and joy. Not only that, it’s really good fun.

This is a training product that teaches you how to bring an engaging singing and reminiscence experience to someone with dementia. It can be used by a relative or carer, or an activities co-ordinator or volunteer in a care home. This is aimed at everyone and is really easy to use.

The Leader Course uncovers how to use these ‘ready to go’ programmes and deliver the Singing for Seniors session, and includes samples of the resources required to make this happen. The resources include a taster CD of popular songs (with warm up and farewell options), which have been specially altered to be just at the right tempo. To help everyone follow the music, you can hear the songs being sung and also receive a large-print songbook.

But what is it that makes this product different? We’ve created the Reminiscence Guide. Thoughtfully developed, this resource includes lots of visual cues to get the memories flowing, and to make the activity more engaging, fun and thought provoking. Easy to slot into a session, we’re told this is where the magic is!

We are exhibiting on Stand B1, and also running a session in the Practical Activities Workshop on Friday 9th June at 11:00. Come and see us in action and to find out more.

Susan Garrett at Vocal Vitality says:

“I have been delivering (and will continue to deliver) Singing for Seniors sessions into care home settings with tremendous success. It has taken me a very long time to create an activity that ticks every single box, and now that I have uncovered the perfect formula, I want to share this with as many people as possible. You will see that my approach to a singing activity session brings so much more than just a sing-along, and I’m totally confident that after my training programme (and with the unique resources) you will also be able to deliver something really special. Anyone can do it, and everyone will love it!”

Those using the package have commented:

“This is a fresh approach – I’ve not used anything else like it. It is extremely flexible, and the reminiscence aspect adds a whole new dimension that really surprised me”

Activities Co-ordinator

“My father has advanced dementia and I often use singing as a way to engage with him.I try to sing with him at least twice a week, if not more.Having the large print songbook helps him to sing along and having a variety of songs already recorded makes it very easy to use.The Reminiscence Guide also helps us chat about a particular song or artist and stimulates his memories.

I would say hearing my father sing along to a song when he can barely speak a full sentence is one of the most heart-warming and satisfying parts of the day.I can see that he taps into some long-lost sense of self, however briefly”.

Primary carer of a loved one

Vocal Vitality

Vocal Vitality was created by Australian born singer Susan Garrett, who has over 25 yearsperforming and teaching experience. She believes people of all ages and experience can enjoy using their voices and is on a mission to share the benefits that singing brings with as many people as possible.

Susan started off at college singing concerts for people in hospitals and care homes. She then worked with the Alzheimers Association as a Singing for the Brain Leader which helped her to develop her skills further. Susan realised at this stage that she really loved working with people with dementia and wanted to find a way to combine this passion with singing, in a meaningful way.Singing for Seniors was born as Susan wanted to take singing and all of its wonderful benefits into as many different settings on a regular basis. She usually delivers these sessions personally, but due to the success of her unique sessions, the Leader Course and Songbook and Reminiscence Programmes were also developed to empower anyone to deliver this. Her goal is for as many care home settings as possible to be delivering her Singing for Seniors sessions, as she believes that her singing and reminiscence activity creates moving, meaningful and priceless moments.

Vocal Vitality also provides one-to-one singing lessons for all ages and her Singing Academy offers afterschool classes for children.

For more information contact:

Susan Garrett

Director

Vocal Vitality

Phone: 020 3488 0622 Mobile: 07521 928991

Email: Web: vocalvitality.com