Singing Italian songs brings back memories of home for elderly migrants with dementia

Dementia has taken away the ability to speak for some of this choir, made up of Italian migrants, but when the music starts it brings the memories of their far-away home flooding back.

The choir La Seconda Gioventù, which translates to the second youth, is made up of Italian residents from aged care home InCasa.

The group of about 50 brought cheer to all those around at Point Walter as they sang Italian songs from their childhood as part of their celebrations in the lead up to Christmas.

Some choir members had tears of joy as they sang along to songs such as Mamma and O Sole Mio.

But the choir isn’t just about having fun. It was set up by Edith Cowan University researcher Simone Marino to explore how reconnecting with familiar songs, dialects and life stories can restore wellbeing for migrants living with dementia.

Dr Marino, who plays guitar, a bagpipe made out of goat skin and sings with the choir, said the cultural connection for the Italian participants improved their wellbeing.

“The literature calls it social death but we don’t need big words to understand that people with dementia feel ignored and migrants living with dementia have an extra layer,” he said.

“We like to highlight the best memories that they have before migration.

“The magic of what we’re doing is some participants are non-verbal but whenever we sing they light up.

“It gives them a lot of engagement and it’s just that moment that is important to bring them back to the world.”

Rita Manano, 85, and her husband Nino, 90, find the music rekindles their love for each other after 65 years of marriage.

Another participant said the choir was important to him as it brought up memories of Italy, where he hadn’t lived since he was a teenager.

“I’ve been in Australia for 65 years as I came out when I was 16,” he said.

“We were all born in Italy, and we still have the homeland in our heart, and with these songs you remember your grandmother and grandfather.”