Serenading the mind: positive and critical lived experiences of individuals with dementia with participatory community choirs

Background: Participatory choirs gathering people with and without dementia, aiming at the well-being of participants and stigma-reduction, are promising; however, there is a lack of research on the challenging aspects of participatory choirs from the perspective of people with dementia. Methods: To understand these experiences, we conducted 14 semi-structured interviews with choir participants and mostly together with their loved ones from different participatory choirs, and seven researchers conducted participatory observations during choir rehearsals and performances. Results: Most participants valued singing in a participatory choir; however, the stories also showed that organizing the choir requires a balancing act for initiators, coordinators, and conductors on many levels. The four key themes identified in this study highlight participants’ multiform experiences: (1) Balancing accessibility with aesthetics? (2) Choir as a warm bath, but too short? (3) High-quality music, but too challenging? (4) Self-reliant, but with limits? Conclusions: The choir’s approach requires attention to meet all members’ varied needs and remains true to its core mission.