Music for Dementia Releases Emotional New Christmas Film
Wednesday 19 November, 2025
Music for Dementia, a leading charity advocating for the use of music in helping those living with dementia, has unveiled a poignant new Christmas film that highlights the powerful impact of music in the lives of families affected by the disease.
Inspired by the popular John Lewis Christmas ad, the film was conceived and shot by the Music for Dementia campaign in just ten days, using a limited budget and casting friends and family members to showcase how music can connect different generations.
The film opens with an elderly woman struggling to engage with technology as she tries to play music on a vinyl record. In a moment of reflection, she even contemplates putting CDs into a toaster. However, her six-year-old granddaughter comes to the rescue by introducing her to the Yoto Player, a children’s audio device that easily connects to m4dRADIO – a radio station specifically designed to provide those with dementia access to music from different decades. The family then shares a heartwarming moment of connection, and the woman’s world instantly becomes brighter.
The star of the film is six-year-old Aria Wheele, whose mother works for Music for Dementia. Despite having no prior acting experience, Aria thoroughly enjoyed being on set and helping to spread joy through music. She says, “Being on set was like stepping into a giant storybook. I got to wear a costume and help everyone smile with music – it was cool.”
According to Amy Shackleton, Project Lead at Music for Dementia, the charity has been advocating for the power of music for years, and the new film aligns with their mission. “John Lewis’s Christmas campaign articulates something Music for Dementia has been advocating for years – that music connects us. It’s great that they are helping shine a light on the power of music, but we’re mindful that the people who need music the most often find it hardest to access due to barriers with technology. That’s why we decided to make our own Christmas film – albeit in just a few days and with a tiny budget! We think it packs an emotional punch and hope it encourages families to help their loved ones enjoy the gift of music this Christmas.”
Recent research conducted by Music for Dementia with 1,000 family carers of people living with dementia reveals that only three in ten older carers are able to stream music with their loved ones. This is supported by a similar study by Age UK, which found that six in ten internet users aged 65 or over never use the internet to stream music or videos.
To address this issue, Music for Dementia has spent the last year working with families living with dementia to understand their struggles with accessing music. They have redesigned their m4dRADIO interface to make it more user-friendly and have also launched the Music Made Easy campaign, calling on tech companies and music streamers to make their services more accessible for older generations.
The charity found that children’s technology is leading the way in creating screen-free, tactile, and intuitive devices. In May of this year, Music for Dementia conducted a pilot trial with 180 families affected by dementia, providing them with a children’s Yoto Player and a Yoto card that, when inserted, plays music automatically. The results were overwhelmingly positive, with 80% of families reporting an increase in their ability to listen to music and 92% recommending screen-free music devices for older people.
Building on the success of the Yoto trial, Music for Dementia is now giving away 500 free Yoto kits, which include a 20% discount code for a Yoto Player, Yoto cards for access to m4dRADIO’s six non-stop music channels, and handy stickers with easy-to-read instructions. To apply for a free Yoto kit, visit the Music for Dementia website.
Dom Hodge, Head of Music and Sound at Yoto, commented on the success of the pilot trial, stating, “Yoto’s screen-free, intuitive technology was designed to empower children as young as three to access audio independently, and this pilot with Music for Dementia showed that it’s equally effective at connecting people living with dementia to the music they love simply and easily without screens or complicated mechanisms. This powerful film perfectly highlights how simple, accessible tech can break down barriers and bring joy to families through the universal power of music.”
In the UK alone, there are 940,000 people living with dementia, and this number is expected to rise to 1.5 million by 2040. Research has shown that music can help manage dementia symptoms, such as agitation and distress, bring back memories, and even restore lost abilities. It also creates moments of joy and helps overcome isolation.
The Music for Dementia Christmas film is available for viewing now and is sure to touch the hearts of viewers with its powerful message.
