band. Arla loved the Duke, and she was always the first one out on the dance floor. David put on one of Ellington’s CDs, and as the orchestra swelled, he held out his arms. Arla smiled and stood right up, seeming to float into his embrace. He had to grin as he danced her into the bathroom to the sound of the Duke playing, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” Two days later, “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” came to his rescue. Day after day, the Duke inspired David’s “Satin Doll” to dance her way to the bathroom.
“Besides reducing agitation, research shows that music improves memory,” Concetta says. “I have yet to meet someone who isn’t responsive to the right music.”
Creative Sparks
Put together a catalogue of songs your partner likes and a list of family and friends the music connects her to. If the grandchildren are visiting, and Grandma used to take the kids to Disney movies, play or sing those Disney tunes. With adult children, revisit favorite childhood melodies.
Take advantage of conversational openings the lyrics might inspire. For example, if your partner asks, “When is Dad coming?” after hearing a song from his teenage years, ask, “Are you thinking about your dad? Did he like this song? Did you ever sing to it together?”
Seek community concerts and dementia-friendly singing groups.
Invite friends to share relevant songs.
Explore opportunities to engage with music therapists.
To reduce resistance and increase a feeling of safety, sing during daily care routines, such as bathing or getting ready for bed.
Use music, along with dancing and singing, to reduce anxiety.
Create your own personal playlist and share it with friends and family; listening to these songs is a wonderful way to relax and stay connected with yourself and your own history.
Come Alive with Personal Playlists
“To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart, / And to sing it to them when they have forgotten.” —Arne Garborg
Just an hour earlier, Henry was staring vacantly at the television set in the memory care unit. Now Henry is grooving, feet tapping, fingers snapping, head bobbing. His headphones block out distractions, and he hums along, blissfully engaged in his favorite songs from the 1940s.
Henry is one of thousands of people who benefit from MUSIC & MEMORYSM, which is now used throughout the world.
Seeking Musical Solutions
One afternoon in 2006, Dan Cohen, a social worker with a background in high-tech training and software applications, was listening to a radio show that discussed the MP3 player phenomenon. As he listened, Dan wondered, Would I have access to my favorite sixties music if I ever needed to live in a nursing home?
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