did a show for Alzheimer's patients

Subject: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 08:42 PM

Just wanted to tell how this Sunday three of us did a short concert for about 20 Alzheimer's patients. I was dubious about this, thinking that we would be performing for totally unresponsive people, but this was not the case. They all listened attentively, applauded, offered occasional compliments and clapped along in time when we led them. It was good.

We had soprano recorder, percussion, and mandolin or bouzouki. I had other recorders and flutes along, but only the soprano carried well enough in the big room, so the others went unused.

Best of all, the mother of our mandolin player recognized him and wife and went around introducing him to everyone. (Somedays she doesn't even know who they are.) I like to think that it was the sight and sound of him playing that triggered her memory.

Next time, I won't be scared.

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 09:02 PM

Marvelous, leenia!

Ebbie

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Lonesome Gillette
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 09:36 PM

My father in law died a couple years ago of Alzheimer's at the VA hospital here. I got in the habit of bringing my banjo when visiting because all the guys there really seemed to respond to the music even though they were in advanced stages of the disease. I still go up there and play once in a while and I know they enjoy it even though they can't say so. This is a very sad disease, it can be a very long slow process, music can help.

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Gypsy
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 10:26 PM

Good job Leeneia! That's the kind of thing we want to do after our caregiving duties are finished. Performing at the local convalescent home. I know that the little mother loves it when people jam over here, does her a world of good. Not alzheimers by any means, but definitely on the road to senility. Music heals.

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Musicman
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 11:19 PM

Leeneia

I used to work as a music therapist in a hospital situation. I worked in the extended care, intermediate care and palliative care programs of the hospital. Every day that I worked in the intermediate care facility (4 1/2 days/week) I would spend 45-60 minutes in the special care unit, these are the alzheimers patients. We had the most fun there... I would do singalongs, play instruments, dancing etc... they would sit in a circle around me (on a rolling stool) while I played guitar and conversed with them.... we would joke (most of it nonsense) carryon absurd conversations (because of the nature of the disease) and sing. They would sing with me, remembering most of the words of the songs, some of them even requesting songs..... I took a three month leave of absense, came back, first day one of the ladies asked for "that german song we sing" (du ligst mir im herzen). she hadn't sung it for three months... another time, sang 'Redwing' with an added verse about charlie chaplin, one fellow, big grin told us at the end 'I remember learning that when I was 5!' True or not, didn't matter, every time we sang that song I would get a big grin out of him..... The song "Around her neck she wore a yellow ribbon' has a great group shout 'Faraway!', which we heard one time from one of the rooms down the hall!!!

An article I once read about music therapy in the Alzheimer's ward states that persons with Alzheimer's disease "have not lost their memories nor their former personalities. They have lost access to them." "Thus with music, - and here, above all, it must be the 'right' music, the music which holds significance for the individual - the demented patient can recall, re-access, not only his powers of speech, his perceptual and thinking skills, but his entire emotional and intellectual configuration, his life history, his identity - 'for awhile'" (Dr. Oliver Sacks)

They will seek out the music to be involved, participate in ways totally unexpected but so natural. The best part of working with these patients is watching the staff..... they come to see their patients in a different light as they see a side of them they may not have seen before....

enjoy them, they are alot of fun...

musicman

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 11:43 PM

Good stuff Leeneia.

I've played many times for Alzheimer patients and it's disconcerting. (my Mother-in law suffers from it) Sometimes the immediate moment may be all that the person can relate to. Believe me the music is appreciated. Thanks for posting this.

Rick

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: KT
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 11:52 PM

Leeneia, how wonderful! And you will never know how many of the folks are deeply touched by your gift of music, since many may not be able to express it.

Regarding what Musicman said, I recently heard a lecture where similar reference was made to the Alzheimer patient's loss of access to memories. It was likened to a card catalog that had been dropped on the ground, and all of the contents were spilled and scattered. All of the cards were quickly retrieved and put back into the container, but not in the right order, therefore not as readily accessible. All still there, just takes longer to retrieve them.

Musicman, are you still working as a Music Therapist? KT

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 01:20 AM

Leeneia, thanks for telling about your experience. You, also, Musicman. It is really important for people to realise the power that music can have in all kinds of situations, even if the healing is only for a few moments of recognition, it still stays there within the hearts of all who listen.

kat

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Musicman
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 01:31 AM

KT... alas, but not at the moment... I worked in the same hospital for 7 years before calling it quits at the end of june... burnt out basically... I've had a rough few years so was needing a break from hospitals.... now working in a music store, playing lots of music and sailing lots.....

the touch that we have as musicians with these people brings that momentary sparkle back into their eyes (most of the time). It dosn't always last, but nothing does with them. If we can touch them for the moment, then they appreciate it--

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Musicman
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 01:36 AM

shoot, wrong button.. wasn't finished.....

as I was saying.. they appreciate it, AND SO DO THEIR FAMILIES!!! More than you will ever know or imagine until you are there. I have a stack of cards from families expressing their thanks for me 'doing my job'. It meant so much more for them do see their parent/spouse enjoying themselves, singing, communicating, participating, smiling..... It brings back the person they once were and makes it easier for the families as well.....

I could go on..... and on......

musicman

ps. maybe one day I'll go back to it...... a great job for learning songs..... especially pre 1950....

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: CarolC
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 02:50 AM

Music is a powerful trigger, isn't it?

Good for you!

Carol

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: John Hardly
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 09:09 AM

I am SO glad you posted this. I have some questions about this that I hope you all can help me with. Every month my wife and two of her friends take their dogs to the local nursing homes. On occasion (like yesterday) I go with them--they had the dogs in costume for Halloween--you ain't lived 'til you've seen a malamute dressed as tinkerbell.

The question I have is about how to comport myself with the older folks in the homes. I have a real problem with what seems to be a patronizing tone that one seems to naturally fall into when conversing with the elderly. I generally want to assume that the residents should be talked to with the respect that I would want shown me--problem is, seems to me they actually respond better to the less adult banter (of course I'm talking generally and also not specifically about Alzheimer's patients). I've often thought of taking my guitar and playing for them as a friend of mine does but I can't get past this uncomfortable issue. My grandparents died when I was very young--guess I just got no practical experience. Help anyone?

John

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Gern
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 09:38 AM

Excellent topic, and John Hardly poses some real concerns. I just finished my tour of duty caregiving an Alzheimer's Dad, and it was very easy to patronize him. But I found that he responded to marginally child-like tones, and often switched off my attempts to "treat him like an adult." Eventually I realized that the problem was mine: I couldn't accept the disparity between who he was before and where he was ending up. As a teacher, I slowly learned how to "talk down" to students without sounding so, and I tried mightily to walk that line with dad. He retained his most of his tastes and preferences and his sense of humor, but all was greatly simplified within his mind. It is a crushing thing for a son to watch, but that doesn't make his needs go away. "Music therapy" is as valuable for these folks as it is for any of us. I congratulate those who have enough courage and dedication to reach out to them. Perhaps Mudcatters should designate a day and all of us grab our guitars, etc. and descend on local Nursing Homes.

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Lonesome Gillette
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 09:49 AM

John, Good question, I worked for years in a group home for developmentally disabled adults and I saw what you are talking about (patronizing tone) from staff members and visitors. See it at the VA hospital too. I've seen are people who use a one-size-fits-all-baby-talk that is not their normal way of speaking to ALL the "residents". I'm definitely no expert but...Seems to me like it's ok to have fun, and talk about things that are interesting to both people in the conversation, but when the conversation gets forced, that's when the patronizing tone can creep in. I think it's a fine line. When the ability of the person you are communicating with is very poor or almost non-existent you can still communicate. I try to relate in some way, music works great. I always start by talking to someone like I would to any stranger, then I might modify my communication if I feel I need to, know what I mean? I feel the point is to just be conscious that this is a potential problem, I think a lot of people never even think about it.

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: catspaw49
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 10:16 AM

Wonderful stories........Great thread.........Its about the music and the music is about the people. Thanks for the bright spots.

Spaw

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 10:50 AM

I'm back. It's so good to read all these responses. Based on what Musicman said, I'm going to work up some well-known old songs for us to sing with the patients.

There was a woman patient, quite tall, who sat very straight in her chair and listened attentively. When we socialized after the music, she told us that she had been a ballerina with an opera company in Chicago. She began to show us how to move your arms in ballet. It was beautiful. She is 91 years old, yet her arms were still graceful, her movements fluid. True, her skin was wrinkled and all the blue veins showed, but the ballerina was still inside those arms.

Wouldn't it be great if we could see stuff like that on movies and TV instead of the same old garbage?

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Musicman
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 10:54 AM

John... it's easy... talk to them as you talk to anybody else..... sometimes you have to make allowences for illness, but, treat them as your friends, your peers, your elders.....

When I was doing my music groups my main goal was to have fun with them... I would badger, encourage, insult(mildly, in a fun way) question, expect.... anything to get participation.... and it worked! I remember talking with the director at the facility one time about my work and methods.. She appreciated the candor in which i talked with people, especially the men.. She said the we have a way of talking to each other (men, that is) almost through insults, that cannot be accomplished with women talking to men. Always accompanied with a smile or grin. They loved it... the little one-liners, stuff they are not expecting to hear, but does no harm to anyone. Jokes with the song titles.. anything to get a rise or a laugh

Above all, talk to them, treat them as you would anybody else, they deserve it.. whether they understand or not, they do understand the tone of the conversation. I too hate 'baby-talk' with our seniors.

MM

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Musicman
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 12:05 PM

btw.. leeneia.... ask them... for their favorites, if you don't know them, ask them to sing it for you... you might be surprised sometime...... I was... many times.

If you need help with songs or lyrics or music, let me know, personal message or email, I have hundreds available to me....

musicman

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: guinnesschik
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 12:19 PM

Leeneia, I had to add my two cents worth. I work with a group called ARTS For People, and we offer a wide range of music and dance therapy for residents of retirement villages, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. When I first started providing music therapy for the residents, I was frightened witless. I had no skill, and no idea what to expect. After my first session, however, I realized what a joy and blessing for me this was going to be, as well as providing much needed outside stimuli for the folks living there.

Talk to them as you would anyone, hold hands, play and sing your heart out, John. They may not respond immediately, but they'll know you've been there. It means so much!

Check 'em out at

artsforpeople.org

;-)g'chik

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 04:49 PM

leeneia, Hardi has some stuff to share from the services he has conducted at nursing homes. And I will never forget the lady I saw at one of these, wrapped in a volunteer's loving embrace as she soaked up all the stuff that got through. Nor the man sitting next to me who perked up and told me about driving the truck that used to pick up all the farmers' milk in this county-- all the home dairies, now closed, whose panopy of beautifully logo'd glass jugs still are used for the milk we can still get at the last of the last.

MM, I have heard you at HearMe and believe me, you are still a music therapist. Come on over to our house when you can, so we can do it for you. You can have MMario's room. Or if you make it during warm weather, we'll pop up the camper for you so you have your own space, right on the little creek where, sometimes, there are ducks softly calling at night if they aren't in the pond further back. In fact, that invitation is about to become a thread of its own, and I hope to see you there as well as at our campfire some fine evening.

~Susan

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: KT
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 03:40 AM

It's all about treating the folks with dignity and respect, isn't it? And remembering that who they are is SO much more than the shell of a body that we are seeing at the moment. Goes for kids, as well as seniors.....Great thread.... KT

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: GUEST,Lyrical Lady
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 06:14 PM

My mother-in-law suffered from alzheimers and at the end of her life she had already been 'gone' for quite some time. Although she couldn't walk or talk or relate to us in anyway ... she could still sit at the piano and play 'Now is the Hour'. Her husband is now in an intermediate care facility where I sing for the residents. ... music is a wonderful communicator and provides it's own rewarding community. Thank you to all of you who share your gifts ... you truly make us all happier people.

...LL

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: GUEST,Sherry
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 11:06 AM

Do you think just playing old music 30's 40's would be a good thing
to do with the elderly? I think just them hearing the songs, brings
back memories of what was long ago. I don't play any instruments but
I can sing and try and get them involved in singalongs.

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Splott Man
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 11:17 AM

On getting the material right,

My mother lived in sheltered accommodation where they would get entertainment occasionally. Her complaint was that the singer would always pitch the songs too old.
As she put it, the Daisy Daisy brigade died years ago. Try to work out what songs were popular when they were in their teens and twenties. In my Mum's case that was the Glenn Miller era, although she would happily sing along to a Beatles medley at the age of 85.

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 11:49 AM

Thanks for refreshing this, Splott Man. It predates my time on Mudcat, and I hadn't read it. I've not done music specifically for Alzheimer's patients even though I regularly have done programs in nursing homes. For the last two years, I've done it monthly at one home, and several times a year at a second, with more occasional programs at several other homes. I also had a neighbor my wife and I visited regularly who recently died of Alzheimers.

Perhaps as folk singers we put too much emphasis on memories. I've done programs of my own songs, other folk songs and less familiar gospel in nursing homes where everyone was clear minded, and yet very few were familiar with the songs. When you sing for a nursing home whatever the afflictions, it's equally important that you just cared enough to come. Sometimes, holding someone's hand and telling them that you're glad to see them means more than an hour of songs they know by heart. They can listen to the old songs on a CD (and often do.) Holding a CD in your hand can't compare with holding a stranger's hand who has come to visit you because they care about you.

Jerry

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 12:02 PM

I know this is a serious subject, but you have just scared me to my very core..... the thought of being old and in a home is bad enough, but having someone coming and singing the songs of my youth to me is plain terrifying!! Do you know how terrible the music of the 1970's was??? I hated the Bay City Rollers and the Sex Pistols then.. the idea that someone is going to come and make me sing along with 'Bye Bye Baby' when I'm 90+ makes me look kindly at senility!

LTS

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: NormanD
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 12:06 PM

That's so nicely put, Jerry. Being with someone with Alzheimer's, or some similar condition, is both distressing and tiring. You're with a shell of someone you once knew as a loved one.

My partner's mother is in a care home, and we've started singing with her. She used to be a teacher, and sang with primary school kids, so she remembers many old trad British songs really well. She can still hold a tune and recalls most of the words, so we do this as an activity together. It does invigorate her and cheers her up, and makes a change from her asking us the same questions over and over and over. Now, we just sing, and it's less stressing for us too.

I left a similar message a few months ago, and asked if anyone had a copy of the old National Song Book as used in schools; a fellow Mudcatter kindly sent me a copy, and it's been of great use. So thanks again, Greg!

It's better to sing with someone rather than to them, if possible. The changes can be incredible.

Norman

Subject: RE: did a show for Alzheimer's patients
From: Little Robyn
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 01:52 PM

I help with an Alzheimer's patient who's forgotten how to walk - she's permanently in a wheel chair.
But sometimes, on the days when she can stand with support, I can get her moving by singing to her - songs she used to sing.
I love to go awandering along the mountain track....
ValereeEEEE...
And she laughs. The sense of humour is still there.
Robyn