Counter dementia with music therapy

due to the cost it inflicts on the City Council.

The purpose of my reply was to point out that if tips were open to everyone, regardless of where you lived, then fly-tipping could be greatly reduced.

As I previously explained, being a resident of Wideopen, I no longer fall into the catchment area for visiting the Brunswick tip, even though I used to and it’s literally two minutes up the road.

Now, however, I and others in the area have to travel several miles in order to dump our rubbish at the designated tip for North Tyneside residents. Apart from that, the council also stipulates you must come with photo ID and proof of your address.

For goodness’ sake, Mr Dickinson, wake up. Make the tips accessible to everyone regardless of where they live and people wouldn’t be as inclined to leave it at the side of the road.

I would never dump rubbish for the sake of it but I do think an injection of common sense on behalf of the council is necessary.

Irene Davidson, Wideopen

WITH a rapidly ageing population and up to 50,000 dementia cases being missed during lockdown, there’s mounting concern and conversation around dementia in the UK.

Quality and tailored dementia care for maintaining quality of life is more pivotal than ever.

As England’s largest not-forprofit provider of care for older people, we see at first hand every day how music transforms our residents’ well-being. Our latest dementia music therapy project, launched in collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University’s Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, with funding from the Utley Foundation, aims to improve outcomes for our residents living with dementia through the transformative power of music and enrich the care we provide to residents.

Anchor is one of the first care home providers to implement music therapy sessions into its dementia care pathway. However, 78% of the public are calling for wider access to dementia music therapy. It’s encouraging to see its importance being recognised.

Now is the time for action. Anchor is calling on the Government to commit to implementing music therapy more widely in dementia care policies and pathways in its upcoming Dementia Care

White Paper. It must also ensure information and resources are available to everyone living with dementia following their diagnosis.

Asa Johnson, dementia services improvement manager, Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care

and housing for older people