DJ Lauren: I made a nine hour playlist for dying dad
DESERT Island Discs host Lauren Laverne has revealed she made a ninehour music playlist with her father before he died last November.
Lauren, an ambassador for Music for Dementia 2020, is today launching a campaign to get others to help someone close with personalised music.
The 41-year-old said: “I have seen first-hand the deep conversations, comfort and ongoing legacy that can grow out of creating a playlist with a loved one. It was something I did with my dad before he died of kidney disease.
“Music was a huge part of his life. It took a whole day and when we were done, we were left with nine hours’ worth of music.”
DJ Lauren, who also has a show on BBC Radio 6 Music, said she still adds to the playlist and it helps her feel closer to her father, Newcastle University academic Dr Leslie Gofton, who was in his early 70s.
Meaningful
She added: “I’m so glad I did this when he was still around. It not only provided a deeper connection when we were together, but his favourite music can still reach me and speak to me now.”
Lauren believes music can also help those with dementia.
“Music can soothe symptoms like anxiety and reduce the need for medication,” she said.
Music for Dementia 2020 campaigns for sufferers to receive music for free as part of their care.
Tips include choosing music that is meaningful and watching out for songs that could cause distress.
Grace Meadows, of Music for Dementia 2020, said a playlist creates a “soundtrack of your life” and is “much more effective than listening indiscriminately”.