The power of music over dementia

Subject: RE: The power of music over dementia
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Jan 16 - 07:43 PM

Well I think I can be a bit more upbeat. Mrs Steve is the prime mover in Bude Memory Cafe. They meet once a fortnight on Fridays (she will be abandoning me this very day as it happens), and they invite all sorts of people to work with people suffering with dementia: singers, musicians, sculptors, storytellers and just people who can organise games, among lots of others. The idea is that the carer brings along the caree (is that a word?) and that the entertainment gives blessed relief for a couple of hours in which long-term memory can be invoked. More importantly, minds can be stimulated and, in the end, it shows!

Subject: RE: The power of music over dementia
From: Thompson
Date: 14 Jan 16 - 03:17 PM

My sister, as she went down that long dark corridor into dementia, was terrified by the "Snoozelum Room" (or some such name), which was supposed to be gently reminiscent and calming music and meditation.

Subject: RE: The power of music over dementia
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Jan 16 - 11:10 AM

This encouraging feel good news was reported on our local TV a few weeks ago,
which prompted me to google away for the next half hour or so to read more background and details..

3 months ago I accompanied my mother [83] to her first appointment at the local memory clinic.
As we entered the building, and sat in empty waiting corridor
we gradually became aware of somewhat disconcerting creepy ethereal heavenly choirs
wafting through the otherwise deserted clinic..

My old mum uncomfortably started to wonder where exactly I was taking her.....????

Some while later an officious nurse arrived from a long way down the hall
and lead us the length of the building to the consultant's room.

Just dead opposite we could see through a small window in a door,
a congregation of very elderly people sat in rows
being 'entertained' by a new age choir....

Music therapy of some kind, but not my mum's cup of tea.

As she made very plainly clear to the medical staff when they invited her to join the 'programme'...

Subject: RE: The power of music over dementia
From: GUEST,Anne Neilson
Date: 14 Jan 16 - 11:07 AM

With a 94 year-old friend bed-bound in a care home, I have often found visits unrewarding as her dementia is quite severe; our 'conversations' were very one-sided and her responses usually inaudible and not to the point (though I didn't care if it could follow the rhythms and patterns of speech, so that it seemed like communication to both of us).

But recently I went in and she had found her singing voice and I had a half hour concert which started with the tune of 'The Grand Old Duke of York' -- about 14 or 15 verses of her own devising which seemed to feature "And you will go, will go" as a sort of chorus; she then segued seamlessly into 'Guide me, oh thou great Jehovah' (again with her own lyrics); next up was the Scottish song 'Will Ye No' Come Back again?' which was appropriately plaintive, unlike the previous two, which were quite forceful and loud; and finally -- but only because I had to leave -- we were back to 'The Grand Old Duke of York'. She was still singing lustily as I walked down the corridor, and staff told me on my next visit that they have had a three hour recital some nights when she is obviously more alert than at the times convenient for me to visit!

Considering that sound is seemingly the last of the senses to go, and that music is a wonderful form of enhanced sound, is it any wonder that such things happen?

Subject: RE: The power of music over dementia
From: GUEST,#
Date: 14 Jan 16 - 10:16 AM

Nice news item. I've played a few 'old age homes' and some folks seemingly disconnected responded to melodies, rhythms and even lyrics. People who seldom speak will have something in a song/tune that brings back a memory and they sure enjoy those moments. I hope more studies are done on how the brain recalls things. Always struck me as something miraculous that I can't remember what I did two weeks back but I can give you note-for-note (with chords) of melodies I wrote fifty years ago. What's that about, huh?

Good post Will Fly. Thanks.

Subject: RE: The power of music over dementia
From: GUEST,Peter from seven stars link
Date: 14 Jan 16 - 09:57 AM

Lovely item. Thanks for posting.

Subject: RE: The power of music over dementia
From: fat B****rd
Date: 14 Jan 16 - 07:04 AM

Excellent. Will. I'd love to be involved in a music project which helped people with dementia.
Charlie

Subject: The power of music over dementia
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Jan 16 - 06:42 AM

An uplifting news item:

93-year old pianist reunited with jazz band members