Mom, Music and More: Keeping the Rythm of Life

My Mom loved music. We grew up with music. My grandmother played the piano at most holidays especially Christmas. Dad gave us accordion lessons. It was Mom, however, who made sure we practiced and were ready for our lesson appointment. She encouraged us to do performances in the backyard or accordion recitals in the neighbors garage. She loved, and saw the value of music. The dilemma was discovering how to keep music as a part of her life and determining what was the most beneficial to her and to her quality of life.

The Alzheimer's Association has some current suggestions posted on their Website which we have used at Harbor House and I tried to insure, were used with Mom and the other residents at her assisted living. The first suggestion is to use "their" music-the music the person with dementia liked when they were younger. This may be big band music, country and western music, but always keeping in mind what was meaningful to them. Next, use the music before and after reminiscing as it sets the mood (gets the wheels turning so to speak). It is important,however, not to play the music during the reminiscing or other activities, as the music then, becomes a distractor during the reminiscing. The mind, confused by the dementia, can concentrate on only one thing at a time.

Perhaps the most important, and I believe the most neglected, is adding movement to the music. Whether this is clapping, dancing or wheelchair dancing. Wheelchair dancing involves the person sitting, but their upper body moving with the music as though they actually were dancing. This movement adds a kinetic or muscle memory to the experience and helps the event to tap into other memories involving this or similar music and similar movement. These are but a few of the important, but powerful components of the use of music in the quality of life of our loved ones. Give it a try and I believe you will see tremendous and even surprisingly positive results.

May God keep you in the palm of Her hand.