Each week, they all meet to raise their voices in song with the help of two music therapists.
On a Friday afternoon in Melbourne, the Austin Health Music Memories Choir is warming up its voices.
Two music therapists, Doctors Jeanette Tamplin and Imogen Clark from the University of Melbourne, direct the choir.
The idea, Dr Clark says, is to use music to help stimulate both memories and emotions.
"The parts of the brain that we connect with memory and emotion are very active still in people right into the very late stages of dementia. And so we think that's why people can still engage in music right into those late stages. So we have seen a lot of people who are basically unable to communicate at all anymore and, suddenly, you'll play music and they'll start singing. It's quite amazing to see."
Among those who have learned to hold a tune are a Croatian-born couple named Ivan and Vera.
Ivan, at age 80, has been living with dementia for several years.
"I'm going well, yeah. We like to meet with people and talking with them wherever you can, and that's it, you know, that's what I can say."
The choir started in April last year, part of a Commonwealth-funded pilot program to see how singing groups can affect the relationships of people with dementia and their carers.
Dr Jeanette Tamplin says the weekly singing seems to have had added benefits, with the choir members saying they feel a real sense of engagement and belonging.
"The additional benefit that our participants have described, where they felt such strong bonds and a feeling of acceptance and understanding from other members of the group, it's just been really amazing to see, and to see that translate into them connecting and supporting each other outside of our group-singing context as well."
Ivan's wife, Vera, says the choir has become one of the highlights of their week.
"(The) benefit is enormous. Huge. You can't explain it, how huge it is. First of all, we learned singing -- neither of us was able to sing, just the little words. Also, we learned Australian songs, English songs. Now, also, companionship with other people with the same or similar situations and very, very patient teachers."
Helping people with dementia and their carers overcome isolation is part of the mission of Alzheimer's Australia.
It has just released a survey of more than 1,400 people that suggests there is still much work to do.
Alzheimer's Australia Victoria's acting chief executive, Leanne Wenig, says the survey shows widespread frustration among dementia sufferers and their carers.
"Ninety-four per cent of people with dementia and, also, 60 per cent of their carers told us through the survey that they've had experiences of feeling embarrassed. And, really, this is because the general population don't know a great deal about dementia. But the other really positive finding was that one in two members of the population who were surveyed said that they're frustrated that they don't know more about dementia. So, you know, they're actually craving for that information, which would then help them understand how they can engage with people with dementia and help them feel more included in the community."
In working towards that goal, the theme for September's Dementia Awareness Month is You Are Not Alone.
"That's the message we invite the community to send, to be living with dementia. We want them to feel comfortable in approaching and getting to know people with dementia, in having them feel included in family life, community life, the broader social setting, and to reach out, really. And it's little things, you know. It's just treating people with dementia with the same sensitivity and inclusiveness and respect as you would anybody else."
Vera says she knows what a scourge isolation can be for people in her position.
"We try to fight isolation. Our friends try to invite us all the time and come to visit, so we try to keep occupied all the time with other things."
There are now plans to expand the pilot program and create six similar choirs at aged-care centres run by the Uniting Church.
People needing support can call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or online at www.fightdementia.org.au
