Unique Australian radio station provides music therapy for people with dementia

A unique Australian radio station called Silver Memories is changing the lives of people with dementia, as well as many socially isolated elderly people.

Brisbane is home to the world's first dedicated 24-hour radio station that's programmed to provide therapeutic benefits to people with dementia.

Around 350,000 Australians have the disease, and that's predicted to rise to 900,000 by 2050.

It means there's going to be greater demand for programs like Silver Memories, which offer cost effective therapy.

RN Breakfast reporter Cathy Van Extel attended a morning tea at an aged care home north of Brisbane for a Silver Memories sing-a-long.

And later on RN Breakfast, Fran Kelly spoke to Gill Ayling from the UK department of health, about creating dementia friendly communities. The full interview is available here.