Danish Nursing Homes Use Singing to Fight Dementia

Edward Walgwe

February 10, 2026
9:54 am

A three-year project in Thisted Kommune will train 300 nursing home staff, 250 volunteers, and 100 care students to use daily singing as a tool to improve elderly residents’ well-being and boost job satisfaction among workers. Funded by 4 million kroner from A.P. Møller Foundation, the initiative builds on local pilot programs showing singing helps dementia patients and creates calm in care routines.

Singing as a Care Tool in Danish Nursing Homes

Nursing homes across Thisted Kommune will soon integrate singing into everyday care routines as part of a structured approach to improving quality of life for elderly residents. The Sangglad Senior project combines musical activities with physical movement to create moments of connection between staff and residents. Research shows that singing together enhances well-being and strengthens community bonds, particularly for people with dementia.

Four Million Kroner Investment

A.P. Møller Foundation has awarded 4 million kroner to Thy Sangskole for the project, which runs from January 2026 through December 2028. The funding enables comprehensive training programs for care workers and volunteers across all municipal nursing homes in Thisted. Thy Sangskole will hire two local staff members dedicated to implementing the initiative.

The investment reflects growing recognition that non-medical approaches can address challenges in elder care. Traditional singing activities have often been viewed as optional extras rather than core care practices. This project positions singing as a practical daily tool rather than occasional entertainment.

Training Hundreds of Care Workers

Approximately 300 nursing home employees will receive training in using song and musical games during their daily interactions with residents. Around 250 volunteers connected to care facilities will also learn these techniques. Additionally, roughly 100 students at VEVO-skolen, the local care training college in Thisted, will incorporate these methods into their education.

The training focuses on simple, repeatable activities. Staff learn to combine singing with physical movements like waving scarves or tossing balls while humming familiar refrains. Repetition helps engage both body and facial expressions, creating multi-sensory experiences for residents.

Building on Local Pilot Experiences

Thy Sangskole developed the concept over nearly two years in close collaboration with Sangens Hus in Herning. Initial trials at Dragsbækcentret nursing home in Thisted demonstrated measurable benefits for both residents and staff. These experiences now provide the foundation for expanding the approach across the municipality.

Positive Results at Dragsbækcentret

Pilot programs at Dragsbækcentret showed clear changes in residents with dementia, according to facility leader Lotte Kjærgaard Bloch. Participants became more animated and joined in singing activities. Staff members initially surprised by the effects later embraced the approach enthusiastically.

The nursing home leader welcomes formal training that will help workers use singing to improve communication with residents. She notes that integrating song into care routines might help limit or prevent conflicts. However, staff need confidence that everyone can participate regardless of singing ability.

Research Supporting Musical Memory

Lasse Skovgaard, who leads the Sangglad Senior program and holds a PhD in health sciences, points to scientific evidence behind the initiative. Studies demonstrate that singing activities contribute positively to well-being and feelings of community. Musical memory often remains intact even in people with advanced dementia, allowing song to create contact, calm, and joy.

Everyone has a voice that can be used therapeutically, according to Skovgaard. The Danish music scene has long valued communal singing, but this practice has declined in everyday life. The project aims to restore singing as a natural part of social interaction in care settings.

Addressing Elder Care Challenges

The initiative responds to staffing pressures and quality concerns affecting nursing homes throughout Denmark. Care workers often face time constraints that limit meaningful interaction with residents. Simple singing activities offer a way to enhance connection without requiring extensive additional resources.

Making Care Work More Attractive

Including singing training in SOSU student education aims to make elder care careers more appealing in Thisted. Recruitment challenges persist across Danish municipalities as the population ages. Equipping future care workers with diverse engagement tools may improve job satisfaction and retention.

The project also leverages volunteer involvement to supplement professional staff. Weekly singing sessions led by volunteers at facilities like Trye nursing home have already demonstrated how community members can enrich residents’ lives. Formalizing volunteer training extends this model across the municipality.

Beyond Traditional Activities

Sangglad Senior differs from conventional group singing sessions by integrating music throughout daily care routines. Staff learn to use humming, simple melodies, and rhythmic activities during personal care, meals, and transitions between activities. This continuous approach creates multiple opportunities for positive interactions.

Physical movement combined with singing addresses both mental and physical health needs. Activities like swaying with fabric or moving to rhythm provide gentle exercise while engaging cognitive functions. These combined benefits matter particularly for residents with limited mobility.

Plans for National Expansion

Thy Sangskole leader Kristina Brogaard expresses hope that the Thisted model will inspire other Danish municipalities. The project includes developing documentation and methods that can be replicated elsewhere. Securing substantial funding for a rural municipality demonstrates the concept’s potential viability across different settings.

Creating a Replicable Model

The three-year timeline allows for thorough testing, refinement, and documentation of approaches. Thy Sangskole will track outcomes and create training materials suitable for broader distribution. Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen, strategic director at Sangens Hus, believes the project can influence welfare practices nationwide.

Thisted’s experience as a testing ground offers advantages for scaling the concept. The municipality’s size allows comprehensive implementation while remaining manageable for evaluation. Success here could provide evidence to convince larger municipalities and national policymakers.

Filling Gaps in Elder Care

Danish nursing homes face ongoing challenges balancing resident needs with resource constraints. Innovations that improve care quality without massive cost increases attract attention from municipal leaders. The Sangglad Senior project positions cultural institutions like Thy Sangskole as partners in addressing social welfare challenges.

Private foundation support through A.P. Møller Foundation enables experimentation that stretched public budgets might not accommodate. This funding model allows proof-of-concept development before potential integration into standard care practices. Results over the next three years will determine whether singing becomes a recognized care tool across Denmark.