Dementia and the role of music.
Sep 01, 2021
Rick Bergh
Dementia and the role of music.

In September 2017, four departments at the University of Victoria (Nursing, Psychology, Sociology and Music) joined forces in a study to research the effects of participating in a choir on those with dementia and their caregivers. Voices in Motion is an intergenerational choir, comprised of 3 choirs in the community, one at a long term care facility and one offered online. The novel research results soon to be published are very exciting because they offer an effective non-pharmacological approach that slows down the decline that proven to reduce cognitive decline for person with dementia and helps to reduce stress for caregivers. Further, the involvement of young people have helped destigmatize the disease which is important as we move towards creating a dementia friendly society.

VIM is  a non-profit and operates through an online choir format as well as providing numerous online community building events to care for our seniors who are isolated and struggling with memory loss.

Rick Bergh (M.Div., CT, NT)Executive Director, Voices in Motion

Rick Bergh (M.Div., CT, NT) Executive Director, Voices in Motion
Rick brings a wealth of nonprofit and marketing expertise to his role with Voices in Motion. In addition, he has well over 33 years of bereavement education and counseling experience. His narrative therapy and grief counseling background allows him to help people transition through loss as well as understand the complexities of grief that arise when families journey with a loved one who has memory loss. Rick began singing with the Voices in Motion choirs initially to support his wife, but since joining has been inspired by the individuals who find joy in the midst of their challenges. As a result, he now sings in all 5 of the ViM choirs. Rick has published numerous books dealing with bereavement and meaning-making. He has a popular podcast, It’s All About the Story, https://griefstories.buzzsprout.com/ and as a thanatologist, he offers workshops and training across Canada.