Merseyside Dementia Friendly Radio is more than a music station

A Liverpool musician, whose family has been affected by dementia, witnessed how shared musical memories stayed strong - even if other memories had faded. He soon discovered this was universal.

The radio station he decided to set up celebrated its anniversary in April and is now ready for Dementia Action Week 2021, which starts today.

Community and memory are the pillars of the station. It is built on the drive and creativity of a group of people whose lives have all been touched by dementia.

At the centre of this group is Nat Gavin. He had his expectations of life and family turned upside down when his mum, Gina, was diagnosed with dementia in 2013.

The bond between Nat and Gina always had a strong relationship with music. Further experience with his grandma and dementia led him to an idea that would be loved by them all.

Soon, a radio station that focussed on shared tears and smiles was born.

It was a simple enough idea, but the level of enthusiasm took Nat by surprise.

"When I first floated the idea to the local dementia community, it was really encouraging that they instantly recognised its value. They couldn't believe that it hadn't already been done."

Keeping the programming entertaining while meeting the needs of its target listeners became the first challenge. It led to discussion, learning and cooperation across communities and sectors.

Tommy Dunne from THRED CIC, another organisation that helps people living with dementia, was one of the people keen to be involved. He says: "I'm living with Alzheimer's. The importance of music in dementia cannot be emphasised enough. This is why I fully support Nat's station. He's a person who has total empathy with those of us living with dementia. He understands how music can reach the parts of the brain that normal communication can't."

After going online on 1st April 2020, the station developed such a broad appeal that it needed to recruit more volunteers, source new equipment, and create constant fresh content.

Nat is looking to grow the reach of the station, as well as bring more and more people on board who have been directly affected. This is all taking place while the range of music and stories continues to grow.

The station will be supporting Dementia Action Week (17th – 23rd May) as the Alzheimer's Society calls on the government to fix the care system, saying:

"Right now, the broken social care system means that in the UK, nearly 1 million people with dementia and their families are struggling to get the support and care that they need and deserve.

"Decades of underfunding and neglect have led to a care system that's difficult to access, costly, inadequate and deeply unfair. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed these problems like never before."

Merseyside Dementia Friendly Radio works to support and comfort people living with dementia, whilst highlighting the importance of music therapy to their quality of life.

Says Nat: "Radio celebrates memory like no other medium, and Merseyside's tradition of storytelling and music adds sparkle to the mix. So, when community is needed and hard to find, MDFR radio is there for you."

MDFR broadcasts 24 hours a day and you can click or tap here to listen.

If you want to know more about the station or the content, please email Nat Gavin on [email protected]