A local Ayr care home has made a donation to a dementia music charity.

Greenan Manor, operated by leading care home provider Meallmore Ltd, has donated £438.30 to Purple Angels, a charity which supplies MP3 players to those living with dementia.

Each MP3 player is offered to an individual with a personalised selection of their 15 favourite songs, constructed by friends and family.

The money was raised at a fair organised by the home, with donations coming from a raffle, a tombola, home baking and refreshments.

Purple Angels, based in Torquay, Devon, supplies 1,200 MP3 players on average per year to people all across the UK. The charity is run by volunteers and was set up in 2019. Since then, it has distributed over 5,000 MP3 players in its time to people living with dementia.

Staff at Greenan Manor were inspired to make the donation as they received five MP3 players from the charity in 2022. This, along with the care home’s current Strive, Achieve and Excellence project on dementia, made Purple Angels a fitting charity for the donation. The project will look to see how Greenan Manor can enhance the lives of those living in the care home who have dementia, as well as making the home an area of support for their families and friends.

Elaine Hughes, Care Home Manager at Greenan Manor, commented: “We were inspired to help Purple Angels as music has been shown to hugely benefit those living with dementia, with musical memories remaining accessible for longer than other memories.

“As with many of the activities we provide at our care home, we know that being able to listen to an individual’s favourite songs can provide joy and comfort to those living with dementia; so, the work the team do at Purple Angels is really important and something we were very eager to support.”

Norman McNamara from Purple Angels said: “On behalf of all our volunteers we would like to thank Greenan Manor for their generous donation. The funds will help to encourage brain activity and stir all kinds of emotions and memories in people living with dementia who receive their MP3 players as a result of the money raised by this care home. Being able to provide this service can only survive with donations like the one from Greenan Manor.”

“We have found that whilst the music is playing, people can remember where they heard the music, what they were doing at the time and possibly in some cases how they used to love playing a musical instrument. It is without a doubt amazing to witness.”

Greenan Manor has an excellent activities programme and incorporates music into many of the social endeavours it provides, including regular entertainers, discos and music playing during dinner times.

Greenan Manor is run by Meallmore Ltd and provides excellent standards of care for its residents, including those living with dementia. More information about Meallmore Ltd can be found at www.meallmore.co.uk/