by Tom Maisey

Drumming Out Dementia is a design-led project that reimagines everyday mobility aids, furniture and care-home objects as musical instruments, transforming tools of dependency into instruments of connection, creativity and wellbeing. The work began through first-hand research in care homes, developed in collaboration with music therapists to understand why many people living with dementia felt unable or reluctant to participate in group music sessions. Traditional instruments often appeared unfamiliar or intimidating, creating anxiety rather than engagement. A key insight emerged: participation increases when the object already feels known.

In response, walking sticks, chairs, Zimmer frames and other everyday equipment were redesigned with subtle sound-making elements, allowing music to be created through natural movement and touch. Because these objects are already part of daily life, they remove the fear of doing something wrong and enable residents to join in instinctively. Developed through testing in real care environments, the project explores how thoughtful design can encourage confidence, communication and social interaction through small, intuitive interventions.

Music is widely recognised as a powerful non-pharmacological intervention for people living with dementia, supporting memory, communication and emotional wellbeing. In an ageing society facing rising care costs, Drumming Out Dementia proposes that music can act as a form of social currency, creating value through connection, dignity and shared experience.