A cafe set up to support people with Alzheimer's is using music to improve their lives.

The Memory Cafe in Cranbrook was opened by Susan Newsam, 58, who left her full-time job in London after her mother Anna began to suffer with dementia.

"I worked for Virgin Galactic," she said, "and I had a senior position there as marketing director.

"Even though I loved my job, I knew I had to spend some time with my mother who was living with dementia.

"I just knew that I would never get that time back unless I spend some time with her."

The inspiration for the cafe came after Susan realised her mother still had a close connection to music.

She said: "Even though she couldn't remember what she'd had for lunch that particular day or what she told me half an hour ago, what she could remember was the lyrics to every single song, every musical - from jazz to Christmas carols."

After seeking advice from the Alzheimer's Society and Kent County Council, Susan put on a pilot scheme in 2016.

It was so successful the group now runs twice a week, with musical sessions and then mid-week sessions reflecting on the memories of the 30-plus attendees.

The cafe also has the support of the Kent Community Foundation, who awarded Susan's project a £4,000 grant to help source and book musicians to perform for the group.

Studies by the Alzheimer's Society suggest music has the ability to open up memory pathways for people suffering with dementia.

The charity also claims therapy through music can improve and support the mood, alertness and engagement of people with Alzheimer's.

This year on World Alzheimer's Day (Saturday, September 21), the society wants to try to break down the stigma of dementia.

Kate Sergeant, Services Manager of the West Kent Alzheimer's society, said projects like the Memory Cafe are vital in helping to remove the stigma surrounding people will the illness.

She said: "Of course the stigma is about fear. We’re all frightened if we haven’t had previous experience of a person with dementia.

"We’re all frightened about saying the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing, and we need to break that barrier down."

The cafe invites carers and relatives along to try and normalise the way the behaviour of people living with dementia can often change.

Listen to Susan explain why she started the Memory Cafe

Kate said the success of projects like the Memory Cafe can be transformative for those who suffer with dementia.

She said: " It’s like magic, it’s amazing, very uplifting. Everyone enjoys music.

"It's fantastic that people like Susan can set up a local cafe for a community like Cranbrook."

Despite the success of the Memory Cafe, Kate said more healthcare provision should be put in place to support people with Alzheimer's disease.

"Most people don’t realise there is no care paid for by government for people with dementia, or very little.

"If you have heart disease or cancer you get your treatment paid for on the NHS. If you get a diagnosis of dementia there is no cure and there is little treatment available."

Kent County Council estimates there are more than 24,000 people in Kent living with dementia.

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