New report calls on government to recognise the “power of music” in healthcare

completemusicupdate.com:

A new report has been launched by UK Music and Music For Dementia which touts music as a “miracle medicine” in various healthcare settings.Called ‘The Power Of Music’, the report calls on the UK government to do more to support healthcare providers, businesses and individuals in using music to improve the lives of people living with dementia, depression and other debilitating conditions.The report makes four key recommendations, calling on the UK government to:• Appoint a Power Of Music Commissioner to oversee work in the area of music and health, including setting up a new government taskforce.• Launch a major public awareness campaign on how music can improve health.• Provide better training for frontline workers on the role of music in healthcare.• Provide funding to make music more available to all.“The pandemic has shown us how we urgently need to reimagine health and social care in the UK”, says Music For Dementia Campaign Director Grace Meadows. “Music has a critical role to play in this and while we’re committed to making this happen, we can’t do this alone.

We need leadership, public engagement and funding at the very least, including the appointment of a Power Of Music Commissioner who will turn our recommendations into action”.“One of our biggest challenges is that many people still don’t fully appreciate the power of music, but we could begin to change that within a year”, she goes on. “We’re calling upon the government and leaders in the fields of health, care, music, charity and philanthropy to work together to ensure the greater use of music in social prescribing and make it a key tool in public health strategies”.“As a country we can change the lived experience of millions living with dementia and wider.