Bringing people together through music as dementia anti stigma campaign encourages Scots to Rethink Dementia
“Music gave me my life back” says Carol Topper, a South Lanarkshire mum, who says singing and dancing transformed her life with dementia following an early diagnosis, showing how shared activities like music can keep people socially connected and living well for longer
Carol Topper and broadcaster Sally Magnusson MBE, join the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket to share advice on how Scots can do simple things to make a difference in helping relatives and friends living with dementia.
Following evidence that social contact can help alleviate some symptoms commonly associated with dementia and help someone stay well for longer, the campaign encourages friends and relatives to support their loved ones by staying in contact and doing the things they’ve always done together.
Whether it’s enjoying music together, popping in for a cup of tea, visiting the shops or going for a walk, every Scot can play their part in helping someone with dementia stay well for longer.
The campaign launch celebrates the power of music in helping people living with dementia feel positive, and stay socially connected, active and part of their community.
Carol Topper, a 59-year-old former hairdresser and office administrator, and Playlist for Life Lived Experience Ambassador from South Lanarkshire says music and dancing transformed her life since diagnosis.
Carol joined Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, Playlist for Life founder, Sally Magnusson, and former Miss Scotland contestant, fourth-year medical student and Playlist for Life ambassador, Abigail Thomson, at Glasgow’s iconic and dementia-friendly venue, the Old Fruitmarket, to mark the campaign.
Carol, who was diagnosed with onset vascular dementia in 2016, explained: “When I was diagnosed at 50, I went into a depression. I didn’t want to see anyone or leave the couch. Then I found Playlist for Life through my local Help Point in Carluke, and it changed everything.
“Now, when I put on my playlist, I’m not thinking about dementia, I’m singing, I’m dancing, I’m me again. And it’s a great activity to enjoy with my friends and family. Music is dear to my heart, and it’s helped me live the best life I can with dementia.
“My favourite song has to be ‘Amazed’ by Lonestar as it was mine and my husband Malcolm’s wedding song.”
“A dementia diagnosis can feel overwhelming for families and friends. But simple acts of kindness really do matter. Staying connected and continuing to enjoy everyday activities together can help people live well for longer.
“This year’s Rethink Dementia campaign celebrates the power of music to spark memories, lift moods and bring people together, something every Scot can help make happen. I am delighted that we have been able to relaunch this campaign, alongside our continued efforts to improve the dementia experience through our 10-year Dementia Strategy.”
Councillor Kelly from COSLA, said: “The Rethink dementia campaign is a key deliverable for COSLA and the Scottish Government’s strategy ‘Dementia in Scotland – Everyone’s Story’.
“This campaign highlights the importance of encouraging people living with dementia to stay socially connected. It reminds us all of the difference we can make to support friends or loved ones living with a dementia diagnosis by maintaining contact and doing the things we’ve always done with them”
Sally Magnusson MBE, founder of Playlist for Life, said moments like Carol’s are at the heart of why the charity exists: “I founded Playlist for Life after caring for my mother, and seeing first-hand how music could transform her days.
“Since then, I have witnessed countless moments where a familiar song lights up a face, sparks a conversation or rekindles joy”.
“It’s great to see the Scottish Government championing this message. Personally meaningful music and the connections it encourages are marvellous ways of restoring a sense of self and well-being. They really do help people to live well with dementia for longer.”
“Music gave me my life back” says Carol Topper, a South Lanarkshire mum, who says singing and dancing transformed her life with dementia following an early diagnosis, showing how shared activities like music can keep people socially connected and living well for longer
Carol Topper and broadcaster Sally Magnusson MBE, join the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket to share advice on how Scots can do simple things to make a difference in helping relatives and friends living with dementia.
Following evidence that social contact can help alleviate some symptoms commonly associated with dementia and help someone stay well for longer, the campaign encourages friends and relatives to support their loved ones by staying in contact and doing the things they’ve always done together.
Whether it’s enjoying music together, popping in for a cup of tea, visiting the shops or going for a walk, every Scot can play their part in helping someone with dementia stay well for longer.
The campaign launch celebrates the power of music in helping people living with dementia feel positive, and stay socially connected, active and part of their community.
Carol Topper, a 59-year-old former hairdresser and office administrator, and Playlist for Life Lived Experience Ambassador from South Lanarkshire says music and dancing transformed her life since diagnosis.
Carol joined Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, Playlist for Life founder, Sally Magnusson, and former Miss Scotland contestant, fourth-year medical student and Playlist for Life ambassador, Abigail Thomson, at Glasgow’s iconic and dementia-friendly venue, the Old Fruitmarket, to mark the campaign.
Carol, who was diagnosed with onset vascular dementia in 2016, explained : “When I was diagnosed at 50, I went into a depression. I didn’t want to see anyone or leave the couch. Then I found Playlist for Life through my local Help Point in Carluke, and it changed everything.
“Now, when I put on my playlist, I’m not thinking about dementia, I’m singing, I’m dancing, I’m me again. And it’s a great activity to enjoy with my friends and family. Music is dear to my heart, and it’s helped me live the best life I can with dementia.
“My favourite song has to be ‘Amazed’ by Lonestar as it was mine and my husband Malcolm’s wedding song.”
“A dementia diagnosis can feel overwhelming for families and friends. But simple acts of kindness really do matter. Staying connected and continuing to enjoy everyday activities together can help people live well for longer.
“This year’s Rethink Dementia campaign celebrates the power of music to spark memories, lift moods and bring people together, something every Scot can help make happen. I am delighted that we have been able to relaunch this campaign, alongside our continued efforts to improve the dementia experience through our 10-year Dementia Strategy.”
Councillor Kelly from COSLA, said: “The Rethink dementia campaign is a key deliverable for COSLA and the Scottish Government’s strategy ‘Dementia in Scotland – Everyone’s Story’.
“This campaign highlights the importance of encouraging people living with dementia to stay socially connected. It reminds us all of the difference we can make to support friends or loved ones living with a dementia diagnosis by maintaining contact and doing the things we’ve always done with them”
Sally Magnusson MBE, founder of Playlist for Life, said moments like Carol’s are at the heart of why the charity exists: “I founded Playlist for Life after caring for my mother, and seeing first-hand how music could transform her days. Since then, I have witnessed countless moments where a familiar song lights up a face, sparks a conversation or rekindles joy”.
“It’s great to see the Scottish Government championing this message. Personally meaningful music and the connections it encourages are marvellous ways of restoring a sense of self and well-being. They really do help people to live well with dementia for longer.”
The festive season is an exciting and busy time, but it can also be a challenging time for some people living with dementia and the people who love and care for them. Music can help. It can ease distress, spark conversation and create moments of joy and a unique shared experience for everyone listening.
There are many ways to help people enjoy music together. Why not:
Create a playlist for youself or someone you know
Donate to our work. Just £10 supports five people with a free resource pack
Buy from our shop. We have the perfect gifts for any music lover and all proceeds help people living with dementia
Music as medicine: Playlist for Life celebrates double win at ScottishPower Foundation Awards
Transforming dementia care with music, the Glasgow-based charity claimed the top prize in the Community Engagement category and was runner-up for the Innovation Award, securing £15,000 of additional funding
Glasgow-based dementia charity, Playlist for Life hit all the right notes at the ScottishPower Foundation Awards 2025, winning the Community Engagement Award and taking the runner-up spot in the Innovation Award, a double honour securing £15,000 to expand its life-changing work.
Founded in 2013, by writer and broadcaster Sally Magnusson, on the belief that personally meaningful music can be a lifeline for people living with dementia, Playlist for Life has supported people across the country living with dementia to connect with family, friends and carers.
Through a network of 2,500 Help Point partners, Playlist for Life has supported more than 60,000 families, with remarkable results, including an 80% reduction in medication for some patients in Fife following the introduction of personalised playlists. Its gold-standard engagement brings together communities, professionals and public figures to show that music is both joyful and lifesaving.
In 2024 alone, Playlist for Life spread its positive message far and wide with campaigns including National Playlist Day which reached over 5 million people across the UK.
The project encouraged people to share their personal playlists as something that can bring joy today but can also be a potential lifeline for the future.
Backed by football legend Sir Alex Ferguson, who shared his own playlist, the campaign launched with a celebration at Kelvingrove Art Gallery, where Scottish band The Bluebells performed their iconic hit ‘Young at Heart’ alongside a local dementia choir in a moment that perfectly captured the charity’s mission.
The charity also came runner-up in the ScottishPower Foundation Innovation Award, recognising its pioneering work embedding personalised music into NHS, health and social care practice which is an approach now signposted in the Scottish Government’s National Dementia Strategy.
The combined £15,000 prize money for the recognition across the two categories will be invested in Playlist for Life’s Melody Across Miles programme, reaching families from underserved and under-represented communities, and will also support the development of their innovative online playlist maker to make it easier for people to create their own personalised soundtracks.
Michael Timmons, Executive Director at Playlist for Life, said: “It’s fantastic to be recognised by the ScottishPower Foundation for our work supporting communities across Scotland and the UK with free resources, advice and support.
“This award is shared with everyone living with dementia, their families, carers and all who’ve helped Playlist for Life bring the soundtrack back into people’s lives.
“The additional funding will help us reach even more people nationwide. Our heartfelt thanks to the ScottishPower Foundation for championing the power of playlists.”
Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “At the ScottishPower Foundation, we believe in the power of people to change lives – and this year’s Award winners have done just that. Their passion, resilience and creativity are nothing short of inspiring.
“Every winner is a true champion, tackling vital challenges. We’re incredibly proud to support these changemakers who are lighting up communities, breaking down barriers and building a brighter future for all. It’s a privilege to stand beside them and help their impact grow.”
Further details on the winners and runners-up are available on the ScottishPower Foundation website: scottishpowerfoundation.com.
The ScottishPower Foundation Awards 2025 winners are:
A huge thank you to everyone who supported our parliamentary reception at Holyrood yesterday, whether in person or from afar!
We had an entertaining and productive evening hearing from some amazing speakers about how personal music can improve wellbeing and why it is crucial that decision-makers support embedding playlists into dementia care to help people across the U.K. now.
Playlist for Life president Sally Magnusson shared her personal experience with using in dementia care with her mother Mamie that led to her founding the charity in 2013, and we heard some powerful testimony from our lived experience ambassador Carol about how discovering and using playlists has been life-changing for managing symptoms.
We received some wonderful endorsements for our work from MSPs including Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Tom Arthur, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party @Anas Sarwar and our generous event sponsor Foysol Choudhury. We were also delighted to have Neil Bibby, Kaukab Stewart, Michael Marra and Jackson Carlaw at our event, all of whom have supported our work, including visiting some of our amazing +2600 community partners distributing free playlist resources that make up our Help Point network.
We enjoyed a performance from our new musical ambassadors The Bluebells, plus our wonderful dementia-inclusive choir and charity partner the Westerton Male Voice Choir whose rousing renditions got the whole room singing, including a track that tops the playlist of our ambassador Sir Alex Ferguson of ‘Moon River’.
We want to see everyone singing from the same song sheet when it comes to embedding personal playlists into dementia care in the U.K., where if nothing changes, 1 in 2 people will be affected by dementia by either developing the condition, caring for someone with it, or both.
There’s no cure for dementia but we know that personally meaningful music can help, so we look forward to continuing our discussions with key decision-makers about making personal playlists in dementia care a reality from diagnosis to end-of-life care
Caring for someone living with dementia can be hard
Personal playlists however can give dementia carers, who are often relatives or friends respite, by helping to reduce symptoms including distress, anxiety, loss of communication and low mood.
Want to know how to make a playlist? Join our free webinar for family and friends this Thursday to learn how:
Playlist for Lifeare the UK’s leading music and dementia charity and the University of Edinburgh’s Prevent Dementia project aims to identify the earliest signs of the disease. And together, they are exploring how the power of music can help those with dementia.
This event, The Musical Brain, will be outlining the neuroscience behind the phenomenon, offering an engaging showcase of how this works in practice and explaining current research while giving advice on how everyone can protect their brain health.
The talk will take place on Saturday 13th April at 1200 in the Auditorium at the National Museum of Scotland. Tickets are available online
The Edinburgh Science Festival runs until 21st April
How personal playlists can help someone live well with dementia
Tips for finding music that sparks memories, conversation, and connection
Simple ways to listen – no technology experience is needed to enjoy playlists!
An opportunity to share songs from your own playlist and connect with others
Book here: https://sbee.link/n4xyvw86hc
Real life stories of how personalised music supports wellbeing
How community organisations are harnessing the power of personalised music to support people affected by dementia
How health and social care professionals are using personalised playlists in dementia care
Could you give the gift of music this Christmas?
Create a playlist for youself or someone you know
Buy from our shop. We have the perfect gifts for any music lover and all proceeds help people living with dementia
We received some wonderful endorsements for our work from MSPs including Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Tom Arthur, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party @Anas Sarwar and our generous event sponsor Foysol Choudhury. We were also delighted to have 
We enjoyed a performance from our new musical ambassadors 
