On Saturday, the 1st of October, a group of compassionate individuals from the Hope Church in George came to the Jura Care Village with one goal: Love!
Johannes van Niekerk, one of the directors of the Jura Care Village, said singing can be very beneficial for those living with dementia.
He said, “Living with dementia is no doubt a terrible disease; for those affected and also their carers. We focus as much as possible on the positives at the Jura Care Village and singing offers the chance to have fun, a stimulating activity both physically and psychologically.”
Johannes says the Jura Care Team would like to thank Hope Church for warming our home with their presence.
“Singing is a natural antidepressant. When you sing, your body releases endorphins, chemicals that make you feel happy. So, the next time you are feeling down, get those vocal chords vibrating and sing your favorite song.”
He continues. “Singing also helps improve the flow of blood and oxygen to your brain. This can improve mental alertness, concentration, and your memory. Because music memories are stored in a different part of the brain, singing songs from their young adult years can help people with dementia to regain certain memories.”
“And because music taps in to long-term memories, some people with dementia who find it extremely difficult to put words together, can often remember song lyrics and sing without interruption.” He said.
The residents here at Jura Care Village enjoyed listening to the group sing, but were delighted most when the rhythm of a familiar song began to fill the air. “Singing those familiar songs is what they enjoy most.” Johannes says. “Songs like; ‘He’s got the whole world in his hands,’ and ‘Jesus loves me this I know,’ really puts a smile on their faces and gets them singing along. It’s always such a pleasure to witness.
What a wonderful gesture from Hope Church and so lovely to see so many young children with their parents there.