Award-winning Jewish Care dementia choir releases single

“At a time where there might be a lot of negativity around your health, it’s nice to achieve something with other people and be praised,” Jeffrey told the JC. “Some of those in the group that have the most progressed dementia, they sing along if you play the song. What I hear from the family members is that I’m very lucky as I get to see the best of everybody. It reflects what music can bring to people with dementia – release.”

“It’s a lovely song,” said choir member Ros. “We have spent a long time working on it – weeks and weeks! I’m very impressed with how it’s turned out.”

Another member, Viv, added: “It has real feeling in it. We went over every single word and kept changing bits until it was perfect.”

It was Tanya Miller, community hub manager and dementia lead for community services at Jewish Care, who came up with the idea for the choir to write a single.

“This project truly reflects the unique and innovative ways we support people living with dementia in the community and the dedication, creativity and compassion that our teams bring to their roles every single day,” she said.

“It is so important for people living with dementia to express themselves, feel comfortable to try something new or step out of their comfort zone, all whilst being supported to do so.”

A member of Jewish Care's Sam Beckman Choir at Safo Music Group, with Jewish Care staff (Photo: Jewish Care)[Missing Credit]

The song began as an assortment of words from every person in the room that Edmund Jeffrey assembled into lyrics. The choir offered melodies, inspired by jazz favourites such as Ella Fitzgerald.

“My favourite words that came up were ‘disgusting banana’. It inspired one of the most important lyrics in the song – ‘your fruit becomes ripe’ – referring to children leaving the family home and time passing. It all came back to the cycle of life, the seasons, and family. This really was their song,” Jeffrey explained. “I helped them piece it together, but it was all their ideas, to the extent that they would tell me if they didn’t like what I suggested.”

The Sam Beckman Choir was awarded Most Promising Act at the 2024 Care Sector’s Got Talent and has also taken part in Jewish Care’s annual Singing for Joy competition, judged in part by renowned choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone OBE.

“People coming together at any age and singing together and being part of a community – we all need that,” said Malone. “It gives us hope. When you are living with dementia, singing is one of the few tools we have to help us retain our feelings, our emotions and our personality. I think it is the closest thing to magic.”

Gareth Malone OBE (third from left) with Jewish Care's Sam Beckman Choir (Photo: Justin Grainge)[Missing Credit]

Jewish Care CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown, who also judged performances at Singing for Joy, said: “When I think about Jewish Care and what we do, so much of it is about connecting people to each other, combating loneliness and isolation, no matter what the challenge is. It is clear to us that using music and song create meaningful engagement and improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia.”

Jewish Care is the largest health and social care organisation serving the Jewish community in London and the South East, supporting 12,000 people each week.

Dementia care is one of the main pillars of Altogether Stronger, Jewish Care’s recently published five-year strategy.

In January, the health and social care charity won the Dementia Care & Engagement Award at the National Activity Awards.

To hear the song, click here