Interests
Jane Bentley, PhD
Musician
To further the cause of social justice in brain health, we need to look deeply into our capacity and skill for relationships, and how we value each and every member of society.
Current Work
Jane is a specialist in using music in healthcare. She creates accessible participative music experiences as a resource for social inclusion, building communicative partnerships, and community integration across the lifespan.
Personal Hero
Patch Adams, Jim Henson
Words of Strength
Building connected, enthusiastic working partnerships
Vision
To further the cause of social justice in brain health, Jane believes we need to look deeply into our capacity and skill for relationships. We need to relate to each other in a way that maximizes connection and create spaces for human flourishing, recognition, and exploration.
Strategy
Jane has been working to develop the role of music as a communicative and relational bridge with people with dementia. She seeks to enhance understanding of its use and potential across a spectrum ranging from recorded music, to live, highly personalized musical care from skilled musicians.
Impact
As an Atlantic Fellow, Jane has been privileged to become involved in national and international campaigns around music, aging, and dementia. Her time at the GBHI gave her the practical and theoretical underpinning and credibility to help further develop these practices, and engage both locally and globally.
Motivation
There is a massive surge of interest and goodwill around dementia-related issues in Scotland – especially the use of music in care settings. Now we need to work to ensure that people are engaged in the highest possible quality of activity – so there is a need for training and mentoring resources.
Education & Experience
Jane Bentley completed her PhD degree at Strathclyde University, focusing on musical relationship and interaction. She has worked musically in dementia care settings for over 15 years. Alongside her freelance career as a musician, consultant and trainer, she works part-time for the National Health Service in Scotland as a musician in mental health occupational therapy services, focusing on older adults. In 2015 she was awarded a Churchill travelling fellowship, to study the role of music in the wellbeing of older adults in Asia, and visited Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Awards & Honors
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