Sing Here Now Vancouver's Only Choir for People with Early-Stage Alzheimer's, Dementia

The Sing Here Now choir is the only choir for persons with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and dementia in Vancouver, Wash., reports The Columbian . The choir is run by the Alzheimer's Association Oregon & Southwest Washington Chapter, and its first session was held last summer. The choir is holding a winter session that will run through mid-March, which may conclude with a small concert if enough people participate. The choir not only seeks to offer emotional and behavioral benefits like stress relief for its members, but also help them recall pleasant memories. Encouraging the second benefit is partly why the choir meets before lunchtime. "We chose this time of day because people are bringing their loved ones here, and they're going to sing for an hour and a half, and then they'll be able to go out to lunch and have a conversation," said co-director Joey Yourchek. Claire-Marie Wisner with Alzheimer's Association Oregon & Southwest Washington added that leaving the house and engaging with others is vital to the quality of life for those with Alzheimer's and dementia.