– We have had an enormous response, says Line’s Kristin Opdal. She works in home care in Overhalla in Trøndelag, and is one of thousands of Norwegians who have been moved and engaged by the series “Dementia Choir” on news. The series follows presenter Ingrid Gjessing Linhave who puts together a dementia choir that will eventually perform on Chat Noir. Opdal himself posted on Facebook whether there was anyone in the municipality who wanted to join such a choir, and many signed up. Line Kristin Opdal received an enormous response when she posted on Facebook if anyone wanted to join a dementia choir. Photo: Privat Will hold a concert at the nursing home – Both the demented person herself, relatives and volunteers, she says. Opdal says that they are betting on a choir with ten participants, both demented and their relatives, to create good moments together. The goal now is to hold a concert at the nursing home in Overhalla, and they will rehearse every fortnight. Opdal says part of the goal is to get more people to talk about dementia, make the disease harmless and become more open about it. – We have set up a group to lead the work with the choir. There are people from the Volunteer Center and the dementia association, she says. More dementia choirs Also in Trondheim, group leader of the Pensioners’ Party, Svein Otto Nilsen, has advocated starting a separate dementia choir in the city. – All people with dementia should, under expert guidance, have the opportunity to sing together with others in the same situation. The authorities must facilitate this by increasing the financial framework for research into dementia, and for the establishment of dementia scores, writes Nilsen in a letter to the city council in Trondheim. Work is also underway to start a similar choir in Levanger. More will also come, according to the National Association for Public Health. Svein Otto Nilsen wants the politicians in Trondheim to support the establishment of a dementia choir in the city. Photo: Linda Bjørgan / news – Fascinerde The organization has contributed as a professional adviser to the news series. They say many people are now applying to start choirs. – It is fascinating to see the impact that song and music can have. Singing together creates community and joy, and is a great activity for people with dementia who enjoy singing, says Mina Gerhardsen. About 60 per cent of the over 100,000 people with dementia in Norway today still live at home. The municipalities are required to offer them organized and adapted activity offers, but only one in three has activity offers in the municipalities. Gerhardsen encourages municipalities to start this as part of the statutory activity offer for people with dementia. Secretary-General of the National Association for Public Health, Mina Gerhardsen, says many people approach them to start dementia choirs. Photo: André Bendixen / news At the same time, they are concerned that choirs are not suitable for everyone and that a wider range of services must be developed. – When you are affected by dementia, it is particularly important to continue with activities you enjoy in order to maintain both enjoyment of life and take care of your health. For some it will be a choir, for others doing animals, physical activity or, for example, handicrafts, says Gerhardsen. Happy about the commitment Kim Wigaard is happy that so many people like the program, and thinks it’s great that more people want to start their own dementia schools. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / Nordisk Banijay/news – It’s absolutely great. We want to provide an offer for people living with the disease, because the offer is not good enough today. That’s what choir leader Kim Wigaard says. He says the response to the series has been overwhelming. – I have started to respond to messages, but I have not been able to read them all, because there are so many. It is a very big commitment. Kim’s father has dementia. The choir director is happy that so many people are becoming aware of the disease. – It is very cool that the production has an impact on dementia care and dementia services. The fact that we are making a difference feels very good to be a part of. And we want more choirs to start up in the country, so it is great that this is now about to happen. The choir members meet for the first choir practice. It is an excited group, where the youngest is only 48 years old. What will the choir sound like?
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Several new dementia choirs start up after the series about the dementia choir on news TV – news Trøndelag
