We’re thrilled to share that two of our core team members, Elsa Hariades our UK Programme Coordinator and Makeda Mitchell our International Programme manager, are travelling to Bangalore today to represent Music as Therapy International at the Dementia Care International Conference (DemCon’24).

Their presentation, “Music Helps (India): An exploration of collaboration and innovation in digital training”, will delve into the story of how  Music Helps came to life through collaboration with Indian experts. With a focus on the course’s impact for caregivers and people living with dementia, this will be a valuable opportunity to showcase how Music Helps (India) offers free, accessible tools to caregivers in English, Hindi, and Telugu, equipping them with the skills to integrate music into daily care.

In addition to presenting at DemCon’24, Elsa and Makeda will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Indian care context, with an inspiring 2-day programme of speakers, workshops, and panel discussions from dementia professionals in India and further afield.

After the conference, Elsa and Makeda will travel to Hyderabad alongside Pavithra Gangadharan, Director of Kshetra Assisted Living and a key collaborator on Music Helps (India). They’ll visit our partner setting, Kshetra Assisted Living, where the course was piloted in 2021. Here, they’ll meet carers to hear firsthand about their experiences using Music Helps (India) as a tool for dementia care and how it has enriched their work and relationships with those in their care.

We hope that this visit will strengthen ties with our partners, allow for the collection of inspiring stories, and provide invaluable feedback to refine our training further. We’re excited to see how these conversations and collaborations will contribute to our shared mission of transforming dementia care through the use of music.

For more on the DemCon’24 conference, please visit www.demcon2024.com, and to learn about Kshetra Assisted Living, check out Heritage Health Care India.