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One oddity is that some folk who can no longer speak after a stroke can still sing. There are different parts of the brain involved. Music can communicate directly with emotions - I remember one person who had severe learning difficulties and had never learned to speak. However, anything played in a minor key would cause this person to burst into tears. I'm no music expert but there is a direct connection to the emotions not easily reached in other ways.

Another advantage of music is that it tends to block out noise. Folks with dementia find it hard when there is more than one stimulus at a time, by eliminating the noises around them, music allows far greater communication.

I've screamed at enough care staff who believed that volume controls only went up and nothing had an off switch. You'd go in in the morning and every radio in the place would be blasting out what the care staff wanted to listen to - almost never what the person they were supposed to be caring for might have liked. The overall effect even without any cognitive deficit was of a racket where any form of focus was impossible.

Simply by getting rid of other distractions, you have a better chance with communication.

Oddly enough, American mental health types were appalled by the quantity of drugs used in dementia care here.
But had no concerns about physically restraining patients for extended periods. A court here would be likely to dish up a prison sentence to anyone authorising or doing that.

From what I've heard from the American Consumer/Survivor/eX-patient types (C/S/X) restraint is very, very common in mental health care in the US. As in 5-point restraint, each wrist and ankle and a waist belt. Sometimes with a headband as well.

Care work is hard (and often unpleasant) work, badly paid and under poor conditions. Usually in chronically understaffed establishments because it is hard to keep good people who are routinely overworked, get paid little and ignored by management about their concerns.

My experience of African cities is that the bush has a whole lot going for it.

Much more than any city I've been in on the continent.

Been there several times. Post 1980 but before Comrade Bob had really done a number on it.

I liked it much more than where I was working on the Zambian/Angolan border.

You, good sir, are a star!

Thanks folks - had no internet access last week.

Yes. Best to nuke it from orbit just to be sure.