Music for Dementia Releases Powerful New Christmas Film Highlighting the Power of Music for Those Living with Dementia
Wednesday 19 November, 2025 – Music for Dementia has released a heartwarming new Christmas film that showcases the unspoken power of music in the lives of families impacted by dementia. The film, inspired by the John Lewis ad, was conceived and shot in just ten days on a shoestring budget by the Music for Dementia campaign. It features friends and family as actors, showcasing how music can connect generations.
The film opens with an elderly woman, portrayed by a family member, struggling with technology as she tries to listen to music. In a poignant moment, she contemplates putting CDs into her toaster. However, her six-year-old granddaughter comes to her rescue and introduces her to the Yoto Player, a children’s audio player that is easy to use for all ages. By inserting a card, the woman is able to listen to m4dRADIO, a radio station specifically designed for those living with dementia. The family shares a special moment of connection across three generations, and the woman’s world becomes instantly brighter.
The six-year-old star of the film is Aria Wheele, whose mother Peyton works for Music for Dementia. Aria, who has no previous acting experience, 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.”
Amy Shackleton, Project Lead at Music for Dementia, states, “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 listen to because of 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 Music for Dementia research, which surveyed 1,000 family carers of people living with dementia, reveals the scale of the problem. Only three in ten older family carers are able to stream music with their loved ones. Age UK research paints a similar picture, with six in ten internet users aged 65 or over never using the internet to stream music or videos.
Music for Dementia spent the last year working with families living with dementia to understand why they struggle to listen to music. They discovered that children’s technology is leading the way in creating screen-free, tactile, intuitive devices. In May of this year, the charity ran a pilot trial with 180 families affected by dementia, giving them each a children’s Yoto Player and a Yoto card that, when inserted, plays automatically, allowing them to listen to m4dRADIO in one simple move. 80% of families reported an increase in the amount of music they were able to listen to, and 92% would recommend screen-free music devices for older people.
Following the success of the Yoto trial, Music for Dementia is giving away 500 free Yoto kits. These kits 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 https://www.musicfordementia.org.uk/yoto.
Dom Hodge, Head of Music and Sound at Yoto, comments, “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, there are 940,000 people living with dementia, and this figure is projected to rise to 1.5 million by 2040. Research shows that music can manage dementia symptoms such as agitation and distress, bring back memories and even abilities thought lost, create moments of joy, and overcome isolation.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.