Music and Memory is an non-profit organisation that has used neural science and music to reach dementia patients who can’t communicate and who live in a world trapped with no way out. With the introduction of music via some iPods this program has made miraculous inroads into helping those who suffer from Alzheimer’s and dementia. The most amazing thing about this non-profit organisation’s program is that it works.
Watch the video below and you can see just how well Henry responds to this musical memory restoration. The video is part of a documentary entitled Alive Inside that is about the Music and Memory nonprofit project. The documentary was made by Michael Rossato-Bennett. For more information about the filmmaker and his amazing film, visit http://www.ximotionmedia.com
Two of the most frightening and isolating deseases in the world now have a glimmer of hope because of this wonderful musical memory program. A hope that does not require drugs to help these lost people regain themselves.
Music & Memory have been helping patients in care facilities who are suffering from a wide range of cognitive and physical challenges to find renewed meaning and connection in their lives through the gift of personalized music.
Their approach (in their words) is simple, elegant and effective. They train elder care professionals in how to set up personalized music playlists for each patient. The music is then delivered via iPods and other digital devices, for those in their care.
By tailoring the music personally to each patient’s past, this “re-introduction” to their musical favorites open up deep memories that haven’t been lost to dementia and it can bring the elderly residents and clients back to life. It enables the patients to feel like themselves again, to converse, socialize and stay in the present.
Music & Memory’s work is rooted in extensive neuroscience research. The results can be nothing short of miraculous.
The man in the video is Henry, who has suffered from dementia for over a decade and hardly spoke a word to anyone until Music & Memory set up an iPod program at his nursing home.
While the video showing Henry’s remarkable “re-awakening” is inspiring, the staff of Music and Memory say that he is not unique. In more than 140 Certified Music & Memory Care Facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada, this groundbreaking program has helped thousands of residents struggling from dementia and other chronic cognitive and physical impairments to reconnect with family, friends and caregivers through their personalized digital music program.
Music and Memory are constantly doing more research and evaluation of their work in helping the elderly residents of care facilities and they say, the program shows consistent results. They claim that the residents are happier and more social and that relationships that were lost with their families and staff and each other open back up.
There is growing evidence that a personalized music program gives professionals one more tool in their effort to reduce reliance on anti-psychotic medications and the patients are happier and now able to communicate on a more regular basis.
The non-profit organisation has a goal of making this miraculous form of personalized therapeutic music the gold standard in elder care facilities throughout the United States and beyond. They also believe that with proper training, family caregivers can bring personalized digital music to their loved ones at home.
There are millions of elderly people like Henry struggling to escape the isolation of dementia. The company have a button on their site for donations and a facility that enables people to donate iPods to the organisation. If you go to their website – http://musicandmemory.org/ – you can read more information about this pioneering program.
With cases of dementia and Alzheimer’s constantly on the rise, this iPod and digitised music program that helps elderly patents to regain their memory is a priceless gift. With the evidence presented it does indeed seem like a miraculous cure for those suffering from this terrifying and isolating desease. While not an expert in the field, it is this journalist’s opinion that this is a ray of hope for families throughout the world who have loved ones who are silently suffering. Watch the video and see if you don’t agree.
By Michael Smith
