Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests.

In this special edition of In Your Opinion - filmed in front of a live audience at The Foundry (the former Elections Department building) - a social service entrepreneur and social worker share how music can transform the eldercare space.

Be it for their loved ones or as part of their advocacy, youths now have more chances to find out about avenues to reach out to seniors, using the powerful tool of music. 

When it comes to engaging the elderly, music can reinvigorate and empower them - all while closing the gap between different generations. 

Studies have shown that music can amplify connections between the brain’s auditory and emotional regions, encouraging memory encoding and recall. 

In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - STNow reporter Christie Chiu - speak with two guests who are harnessing the power of music to transform eldercare in Singapore. 

The two guests are: SanCare Asia founder Johnson Soh, who uses music-based technologies and services to help dementia patients; and Fei Yue Community Services programme executive Amanda Soon, who taps on music to get seniors more involved in their communities.

Having studied in the UK and worked in the film industry there before returning to Singapore, Amanda now uses her creative skills to empower seniors and youths. At Fei Yue, she uses music to pilot various programmes and workshops with youth volunteers, youths and seniors.

After working in the music industry for almost 30 years, Johnson founded SanCare Asia in 2016. The idea for the first eldercare service in Asia to offer person-centred reminiscence music programmes came about when Johnson’s father developed dementia.