Harbison Care and the Rotary Club of Bowral-Mittagong have worked together to help dementia residents harness the power of music.

The 34 residents in the dementia unit at Harbison Care Moss Vale will soon receive an iPod and two pairs of headphones.

The music on each iPod has been specifically selected for each individual.

Harbison diversional therapist Josie Peacock said music could help residents to reconnect with past memories.

“When people have dementia parts of the brain are destroyed, so the neurons die. Music connects through different neurons so you’re able to reconnect with past memories, able to reminisce and it just puts them in a better space,” she said. 

Rotary project co-ordinator Gerry Kroon said they expected to have the kits available for residents soon, with most of the equipment already delivered.

“I think it’s a fantastic project,” he said.

Enough money has been raised that Rotary will be able to help another facility implement the same program in the future.

Harbison CEO Don Ross said listening to music that was significant to the residents would help “get them moving and [be] more flexible in terms of their day to day life”.

“The advantage of the program is to get people who have been used to music throughout their lives stimulated to think back to what music they used to listen to.”

With the playlists currently being complied, Ms Peacock said they would continue to update them.

“It’s an ongoing project. With those playlists that are being developed they continually grow. We change them so they’re not listening to the same music all the time. But it’s all music that they want to listen to. It’s meaningful for them.”