dementia

Sounds of a century could help dementia sufferers 

~ Michael Stevenson ~ Leave a comment

From the roar of Luftwaffe air raids on London to the industrious hush of the British Museum Reading Room, the BBC’s sound effects archive contains a sonic history of the past century.

Access the BBC Sound Archive here

Now 16,000 clips are being released free of charge to the public as part of a project aimed at helping dementia patients to reminisce about the past.

The treasure trove of sounds has been compiled by BBC staff since the 1940s as a resource for radio dramas, documentaries and comedy shows.

Some were specially created by the sound effects department, including a clip of four batter puddings being thrown, which is thought to have appeared in The Goon Show.

Others were recorded during historic, never-to-be-repeated moments. These include a 1940 air raid on [ . . . ]

Continue Reading: Sounds of a century could help dementia sufferers | News | The Times

BBC launch archive of memorable programmes to help dementia sufferers

~ Michael Stevenson ~ Leave a comment

Many will feel a nostalgic twinge when they see clips of television from days gone by. But fond memories inspired by footage of Sir David Attenborough’s encounter with gorillas, Kenneth Clark strolling through Civilisations and the theme tune to the Old Grey Whistle Test have been shown to have a greater purpose: helping those with dementia.

The BBC has launched a permanent archive of pictures, audio and video clips as part of a project to help people with dementia, their family and carers, using their extensive archive to spark conversation. [ . . . ] More at source: BBC launch archive of memorable programmes to help dementia sufferers

Terry Jones ‘still here’ despite dementia, says Eric Idle

~ Michael Stevenson ~ Leave a comment

Terry Jones’s dementia has not got to the stage where he has become unhappy and unaware of who he is, his Monty Python co-star Eric Idle has said.”It doesn’t seem to me that he’s unhappy,” Idle told the Radio Times. “He hasn’t forgotten who he is, yet. Terry’s still here. He’s not gone.”Earlier this year it was announced that the 73-year-old has primary progressive aphasia, a severe variant of dementia.

Source: Terry Jones ‘still here’ despite dementia, says Eric Idle – BBC News