When music fan Brian Shaw was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 66, his children were disappointed to find that any music featured in group activities was really suited to an older generation.
Nick Shaw and Kate Darby knew how much the music of the 60s and 70s meant to their father, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2016, and so they decided to fill this gap by holding their own events.
“We would take him to dementia groups and they were lovely but they were just all geared up for older people,” said Nick.
The Stockport-based siblings joined forces with friend Phil Bostock, whose grandmother was diagnosed with dementia, to launch what has become the Dementia Disco charity.
They first held Dementia Disco events in 2019, with the aim of “using the power of music and dance to bring joy”, said Nick.
Their father, who died in November 2022, loved music and even used to hold kitchen discos, he said.
The 47-year-old said it was “really amazing” to see the responses of those coming along to the events.
“We often have people who are quite non-communicative normally and their feet start tapping and their head starts nodding and, before you know it, they’ll be getting up on the dance floor and having a good time,” he added.
He said they began with one Dementia Disco event and there were now eight running across England.