MUSIC – A TIMELESS MEMORY FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE OR RELATED DEMENTIA
A Message from Michael Schroth, Owner/ Director of Visiting Angels West Cincinnati
November is a month that many of us associate with Thanksgiving Day and giving thanks for our countless blessings! November also happens to be National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. It’s unfortunate, but I’m certain the overwhelming percentage of folks reading this article have watched a loved one or known someone suffer from Alzheimer’s!
My Mom died from complications from Alzheimer’s; in fact, we just celebrated the 7th anniversary of her passing. My memories of her are many but none closer to my heart than seeing the sparkle in her eyes and joy on her face when singing Edelweiss from the Sound of Music!
For those of you who are managing the daily struggle, both physically and emotionally of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s – my heart goes out to you all!
Fully knowing the daily struggle for family members and caregivers, we all grasp for an activity; a memory; a photo; a dance; a song that will bring an added smile to one suffering from Alzheimer’s. Music can be that one activity that can engage an Alzheimer’s patient on so many levels. Music engages multiple parts of the brain, including, but not limited to the auditory cortex for hearing; the part of the brain that deals with movement & dance as well as a visual system that is engaged when playing music for a loved one. Think about it – music opens up so many loving memories, thoughts, and experiences.
Let music be your timeless memory! I’ve seen music work effectively in many ways. One might be amazed how playing jazz music can engage dance and physical movement; or playing soft, instrumental music can reduce anxiety and instill calmness, or how playing timeless classics can engage and/or enhance speech! It’s a timeless memory that Alzheimer’s cannot take away. I’ve witnessed a client who had a progressive aphasia type of dementia and struggled to put more than 3-4 words together but when a certain Christmas song played – she sang each and every word without hesitation. Music can assist in the care of an Alzheimer’s patient in so many ways.
If you would like to experience the extreme impact or power that music can have on someone suffering from Alzheimer’s, I highly recommend that you watch the featured story on Tony Bennett that recently aired on 60 minutes highlighting his fairly recent diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Watching a 95-year-old man struggle at times to put names to friends in photos to performing 12 songs without cue cards or prompting truly illustrates the power of this timeless, endless memory.
Let me extend an early Thanksgiving Blessing to you and your families. Enjoy creating your own Timeless Memory!
Sincerely,
Mike Schroth