1. SING FOR YOUR LIFE

2. Silver Song Clubs
Delivered by Sing For Your Life on a model developed by the Sidney De Haan Centre
Groups of older people meet in community venues to sing and make music - including those with dementia and their carers
Led by experienced facilitators supported by volunteers
Currently about 40 groups across S.E. & Northern England, Italy, Finland, Western Canada 2

3. RCT 2010 Change in demographics of the UK
More older people living with chronic long term health conditions and in social isolation
Limited research into benefits of singing for older people
Only 2 previous trials
Formative evaluation of SSCs by SDH Centre
Cohen (2006). Allocated 166 healthy older adults to chorale or usual activities and assessed at baseline & 12 months. Intervention was over 30 weeks & group reported higher overall rating of physical health , mental health & greater sense of control than comparison 3

4. Trial Design
Programme devised by SFYL and led by experienced facilitators April-July 2010
Outcome measures - standardized health questionnaires
Primary measure York SF-12
Secondary measures HADS, EQ-5D, Service Use Questionnaire
Measured at baseline, post-intervention and 6 month follow-up
Participant comments invited
All self-report measures
SF 12 a widely used health related QoL measure with 12 questions and 2 scales (MCS & PCS). York version validated for older people
HADS widely used and validated for other settings
EQ5D 5 dimensional with 3 alternative responses. A measure of health utility. Can identify 243 possible health states and each is given a value.
Over 80% wrote written comments on 2nd Q 4

5. Findings from Questionnaire Analysis (1)
At 3 months sig. greater improvement in mental
health related quality of life in intervention group
(p<0.01)
At 6 months, sig. greater improvement in mental
health related QOL in intervention group
(p=0.05)
SF12 score ranges 0-100, where 0= lowest level of health and 100 = highest. Scores weighted when computed.
Scores vary over lifetime, with PCS decreasing and MCS increasing with age.
UK national norms (all age) are 52.1 (MCS) & 50.9 (PCS) (Gandeck et al 1998, cited in Warren et al 2011 paper presented to Policy Association conference). Baseline measures in Greaves & Farbus study of older people in UK were 47.0 (MCS) and 35.3 (PCS)
Therefore baseline scores for sample in SSC show they are generally fit and healthy.
On physical scores, lower scores and still greater improvement in intervention group but non-significant. 5

6. Findings from Questionnaire Analysis (2)
HADS anxiety score 0-7 considered normal range.
UK norm for anxiety scale = 6.14 (Crawford et al 2001)
Both groups healthy at baseline and improved over course of project (intervention more so).
At 6 months difference between groups not significant.
At 3 months lower anxiety scores in intervention
group(p<0.01) 6

7. Findings from Questionnaire Analysis (3)
Cost-effectiveness
Combines costs of interventions with QALY changes
Singing group cost more but also greater QALY gain.
Singing groups cost effective if willing to pay >£14,000 per QALY
NICE estimates QALY value £20,000-£30,000
Probability of cost-effectiveness favours singing groups
Cost-effectiveness depends on commissioners’ valuation of QALY i.e. How much willing to pay per QALY
If QALY valued at £0 then control favoured in 81% cases.
As QALY value increases, likelihood of intervention being more cost-effective 7

8. Participant feedback
“I started my participation in this project just after I retired from work and feeling a little anxious about future life. This project has been instrumental in showing me there is life after ‘work’”

9. Conclusion
Singing groups for older people appear to have a benefit in terms of mental health.
Singing groups may be a cost-effective health promotion strategy for this population

10. SING FOR YOUR LIFE
A new focus…

11. The Prime Minister’s Challenge On Dementia - the call
Delivering major improvements in
Dementia care and research by 2015.
Improve care in the community
to support independent living.

12. A SONG A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY!
Our response…
A SONG A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY!

13. Group participatory singing can…
Provide Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST)
Help reduce social isolation
Be delivered whether living in:
Community
Assisted Living Centres
Residential Care Homes

14. Our challenge is…
How can we all help?

15. Silver Song Music Box System
Participatory Singing Programmes available on demand
Easy to operate - Plug in and play!
No formal musical training required
Themed and personalised programmes
Improved behaviour - reduced need for use of antipsychotic drugs

16. SING FOR YOUR LIFE
power of music n