Choir Singing for People With Dementia and Their Care Partners: Exploring the Role of Bonding Social Capital

In this paper, we present the findings from a study of Voices in Motion, an intergenerational community choir program involving persons living with dementia, care partners, and high school students in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Using the concept of social capital, we examine the role Voices in Motion plays in generating trustworthy social relationships, reducing feelings of social isolation, and improving subjective well-being among choir members. Data came from interviews with 23 dyads, each consisting of a person living with dementia and their care partner; additionally, five focus groups with 29 high school students across two Voices in Motion choirs were conducted. Choir rehearsals and concerts were also observed. The study sought to identify factors in Voices in Motion that facilitate the emergence of supportive social relationships among choir members, the way members characterize the nature of these relationships, and the benefits they see in the context of everyday life. The analysis revealed that the two choirs in the Voices in Motion program served as a source of bonding social capital for persons living with dementia, care partners, and students. Care partners and persons living with dementia spoke of a sense of togetherness that united choir members as they shared a similar journey with dementia, along with a profound joy in singing and pride at performing at well-attended concerts and advocacy events. Care partners in particular saw Voices in Motion as a source of emotional support in the context of increasing caregiving burden, while students reported gaining a deeper understanding of the everyday experiences of dementia through their involvement in Voices in Motion.