September has been nothing short of extraordinary at Playlist for Life as we marked World Alzheimer’s Month with many moments showing how and why music can make such a difference to improving wellbeing. We celebrated our 3rd National Playlist Day on September 19 after galvanising support from members of parliament at Westminster and Holyrood for music in dementia care. We reached millions of people through our Ambassador Sir Alex Ferguson’s media moments that highlighted how music can go beyond entertainment to provide connection, joy, and even a lifeline for people affected by dementia.
Why It Matters
It is estimated that 90,000 people in Scotland live with dementia, and it is expected that 1 in 3 people born today will go on to develop the condition. Personal music playlists in dementia care can improve quality of life, reduce medication needs by up to 80% and reduce dementia costs by helping to manage the most distressing symptoms.
Westminster
In the week leading up to National Playlist Day, we had the opportunity to speak to MPs from across the U.K. to share the impact that person-centred music can have for people living with dementia at a Westminster drop-in sponsored by Glasgow North MP Martin Rhodes.
Holyrood: Stories That Move Us
At our Scottish Parliament reception on September 17, our founder Sally Magnusson, spoke about the personal story that inspired Playlist for Life. Her words set the tone for an evening of moving reflections and commitments to support embedding music in dementia care from diagnosis to end-of-life care.
- Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, spoke passionately about the role of person-centred music in dementia care and praised our work. “I welcome the continued collaboration by Playlist for Life with Scottish Government and partners to improve the dementia experience and I know how important the promotion of interventions like this will be in doing so.”
- Anas Sarwar MSP, Leader of Scottish Labour, reinforced the political momentum building behind music as a cost-effective, transformative tool in care. “I’ve seen Playlist for Life in action. The great thing about music is it can reach people that conventional services can’t and it can touch on people’s culture, remind them of their history and really pull communities together. And it’s such an important part, I think of dementia care and how we embed music into our dementia care.”
- And perhaps most memorably, one of our lived experience ambassadors Carol Topper shared how her playlist carried her through some of her most vulnerable moments. Her story brought home what research and politics alone cannot: the human heartbeat at the centre of this movement.
It was a night of inspiration, connection, and hope—made possible by the dedication of our team and the support of everyone who stood with us.
Sir Alex Ferguson: Music That Changes Lives
This year’s National Playlist Day saw Sir Alex Ferguson share more of his personal story with dementia and meet a couple affected by advanced vascular dementia on BBC Breakfast. His conversation with Ken and Mil reinforced what carers have long known and research confirms: personally meaningful music can change lives.
Our Call to Action
National Playlist Day is a celebration and also an awareness-raising campaign to amplify calls for:
- Playlists in Care Pathways: Embedding personalised music into dementia care, from diagnosis to end-of-life.
- Training Staff: Equipping NHS and care workers to use music as confidently as any other tool of care. We have trained over 8000 health and care professionals so far.
- Supporting Families: Expanding our UK-wide network of over 2500 Help Points so carers everywhere can access free resources in their own communities. These Help Points include community groups, faith centres, libraries and many more local organisations and shared public spaces.
Looking Ahead
Our vision is clear: a Scotland where every person living with dementia has access to music that matters to them—from the moment of diagnosis to the very end of life. As we reflect on the campaign this year, we’re looking ahead to make this a reality.
Check out our policy page to learn more about our work. For any enquiries or if you’d like to be part of the Playlist for Life Help Point network, please get in touch by email.
Dr Mehar Shagufta is Policy & Public Affairs Officer at Playlist for Life.
