IT'S difficult to imagine forgetting to wash or eat, but for many people suffering from dementia it's a daily reality.
There isn't a known cure for the degenerative brain condition but a Devon-based collective have landed upon an idea that could make life easier for both sufferers and carers.
Local businessmen Ashley Sims and Keith Byron have teamed up with Plymouth crooner Michael Campari and Norman McNamara of the Devon-based Purple Angel Dementia Awareness Campaign to form Purple Angel Music – a company authentically reproducing classic songs but replacing the lyrics with helpful reminders for dementia sufferers.
Among the re-recorded tracks are Dean Martin's familiar favourite That's Amore transformed into That's A Bath Day and Nat King Cole's number Let There Be Love which has become Let There Be Lunch.
Norman founded the Purple Angel Dementia Campaign in 2012 as a steering group to try and make Torbay the first dementia-friendly resort in the country. The campaign has now transformed into a global, grass-roots foundation for those dealing with dementia.
Having been diagnosed with dementia aged 50, Norman has a better understanding than most of the condition's effects.
Ashley and Norman were working together to create Purple Angel Holidays, a subsidiary company of the The Purple Angel Dementia Awareness Campaign offering respite for carers, when the idea for Purple Angel Music was born.
Ashley says: "One of the things Norman suggested that would help people going on these holidays was music – people can often recall songs from years ago and yet forget to eat, drink or bathe."
It was then that Ashley hit on the idea to recreate well-loved songs but with a helpful message included.
The company are selling the tracks preloaded onto MP3 players, which can be plugged in to a dock in a person's home and will play a different track automatically every two hours, reminding the listener to, for instance, lock their door, have a cup of tea or turn off their fire.
Each MP3 player comes with seven tracks and a silent night-time track which runs for 12 hours.
A percentage of the profit from the sale of each MP3 player will go towards The Purple Angel Dementia Awareness Campaign.
Ashley needed the perfect voice to create the old songs made new and got in touch with successful swing singer Michael Campari.
"Michael thought it was a little nuts, but all great ideas start out with something that's crazy," Ashley smiles.
"Michael wrote all the new lyrics for us – he now owns those songs and we've ended up with something fantastic: Purple Angel Music."
With producer Barney Dine at the helm and with the aid of Betamax drummer Alex McGinnes and singer Hannah Leach of Hottentot Figs, Michael has now recorded seven authentic sounding swing numbers – each with a fun new twist.
"It's important to get the right sound right and it has to be as authentic as possible," Michael says.
"A slightly inferior track can sound like a karaoke song.
"It's important to not depart too far from the original lyrics or at least keep a similar rhyme in order to trigger the memory. It's been fun and I think I've got the balance about right."
Purple Angel Music doesn't intend to draw the line at the swing genre. The group are already planning new categories to adapt.
Michael says: "There's a big back catalogue to work from and who knows where we might go next. It's exciting in that it's a journey and we're not sure how far it could go."
Ashley adds: "We've looked at show tunes which people can really connect with, rock and roll was another and we've had a lot of requests for reggae which is one we'd like to try next.
"We've found a team that really works and I think this is something that could go on for a long time. We've already had calls from America."
Purple Angel Music launched a Crowdfunder campaign last week which allows people to donate money to help the group record more songs and fund recording sessions.
To donate to the campaign visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/purpleangelmusic