A listening case study in dementia

Unlocking the Power of Listening: A Journey with Memory Bridge

At The Evelyn Glennie Foundation, we believe in the transformative power of real listening. One of our most inspiring collaborations was with Michael Verde, founder of Memory Bridge.

Michael approached our founder, Dame Evelyn Glennie, with a unique idea: to bring her ‘listening presence’ to people living with dementia. Evelyn embraced this challenge, meeting with ten individuals at various stages of their dementia journey over two days.

Among those Evelyn met was Babs, a vibrant individual who found joy and connection through music. Evelyn was intrigued by the idea of Memory Bridge, despite having no prior experience working with people with dementia.

Watch Evelyn’s encounter with Babs

Michael Verde’s Reflections

Michael shares his thoughts on this profound experience:

‘I met Evelyn while producing a documentary on listening to people with dementia. We filmed her meeting these people, to see if her gift of listening would be able to cross such a cognitive divide – ten people over two days – alL experiencing different degrees of dementia. Several spoke, most did not.

‘The idea of using music to reach people with dementia is not new. But we were not asking Evelyn to make music, but to use a more powerful bridge: paying attention.

‘Seeing those interactions brought home to me how much healing and listening are the same art. Because the way Evelyn paid attention, those men and women came to trust her. Being listened to like that was healing for them. The change was dramatic, unmistakable and inspiring to all present.’

‘From Evelyn, I learned that real listening takes real courage: the courage to risk leaving the familiar and enter into awkward spaces, to step out of one’s armour and become vulnerable, to take real interest in the life of another person. For over ten hours I watched Evelyn walk into the lives of people who many probably believed were beyond reach. I witnessed how one person can bridge another back to life by listening to them.

Reproduced from Listen World! (London: Balestier, Glennie, 2019)

Join us in making a Difference

At The Evelyn Glennie Foundation, we are committed to expanding the reach of our listening practices. We invite organisations, practitioners, businesses, schools, and individuals to partner with us. Together, we can create more projects that unlock creative expression, enhance professional practice, and bring the benefits of a listening presence to all.

Ready to collaborate?

If you believe that a focus on better listening could enhance your projects or initiatives, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch today and let’s explore how we can make a difference together. By partnering with The Evelyn Glennie Foundation, you can help us teach the world to listen, one meaningful connection at a time.