Maidstone care home ‘rocks against dementia’ with music festival

Ashley Gardens Care Centre in Maidstone has hosted a music festival to help raise awareness of dementia and to encourage support for those living with the condition.

The home has partnered with Purple Angel Dementia Project, an organisation that strives to offer a better standard of life for people living with dementia, through music.  Purple Angel has hosted ‘World Rocks against Dementia’, asking people around the world to hold any kind of music events to join together in spreading awareness.

Ashley Gardens supported the campaign with their own music festival on Friday March 22nd. A variety of local performers took to the stage, as well as one of Ashley Garden’s talented staff members. Residents and visitors were entertained by talented acts including the Kettle Bridge Concertinas, The Singing Barber, The Tragic Mushrooms and staff nurse James who played his guitar.

Staff from the home also took part in the event, serving guests food and drink and handing out fun festival props such as glow-sticks! The team were also joined by residents, staff and visitors from five other local care homes.

Home Manager Jo Mazza said, “Music is a big part of life at Ashley Homes and our music festival was a great way to celebrate this.

“We recently partnered with Purple Angel Music, bringing their music devices into the home to help our residents who live with dementia, connect to happy memories from their past. We see such utter happiness in their faces when they hear their favourite music so we know just how important it is to include music in every day life at our home.

“I hope that our visitors enjoyed the day as much as our residents and staff and that we helped to raise further awareness of dementia and how we can help support those who face its challenges every day.”

Ashley Gardens Care Centre is part of the Healthcare Homes Group and is based on Sutton Road in Maidstone.  It provides residential and nursing care for up to 89 people.
For more information on the music festival and the range of services provided, visit www.healthcarehomes.co.uk or call 01622 761 310.