1. Determine what decade (approximately) would have been their "courting years." I usually define this as the time they were 15-25 years old and were dating, falling in love, getting married and so forth.
2. Go to Google or any search engine, or any university music library and find some of the popular music for that particular decade. For example of I Google "top 40 hits of the 1930's" I get things like "Over the Rainbow," "Begin the Beguine," "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and lots more. I get not only the names, but links to those on iTunes, Rhapsody and other sites. I also have a whole CD of this music on my website.
3. Once you have found the music for your patient or loved one, you play it for them during a quiet time during the early part of the day...before or immediately after lunch are very good times.
4. If possible, play the music for them live on a piano, guitar, autoharp or other such instrument. Live music is always more powerful than recorded. If not possible, a CD or MP3 is also good.
5. Begin to interact with the patient as you listen. sitting across from them, taking their hands, making eye contact and singing along to the music is very beneficial.
6. If possible, get the patient up out of chair or bed and move to the music with them. You don't have to formally dance, but get them walking or stepping to the rhythms of the music.
7. Finally, repeat these same 5 or 6 familiar songs with them several times a day for at least a week. The next week you can take a different 5 or 6 songs.
You will begin to see the benefits almost immediately. Our study showed that patients who had an individualized 30-minute music session each day:
*slept better
*ate better
* were more sociable during the day
* were less combative during the day
and
*required less sleeping or calming medications
Is it worth the trouble? Absolutely! I have seen Alzheimer's patients literally "come to life again" during their music session. Give it a try and let me know if I can help you in any way.
Monday, November 16, 2009
7 tips for using music with Alzheimer's Patients
1. Determine what decade (approximately) would have been their "courting years." I usually define this as the time they were 15-25 years old and were dating, falling in love, getting married and so forth.
2. Go to Google or any search engine, or any university music library and find some of the popular music for that particular decade. For example of I Google "top 40 hits of the 1930's" I get things like "Over the Rainbow," "Begin the Beguine," "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and lots more. I get not only the names, but links to those on iTunes, Rhapsody and other sites. I also have a whole CD of this music on my website.
3. Once you have found the music for your patient or loved one, you play it for them during a quiet time during the early part of the day...before or immediately after lunch are very good times.
4. If possible, play the music for them live on a piano, guitar, autoharp or other such instrument. Live music is always more powerful than recorded. If not possible, a CD or MP3 is also good.
5. Begin to interact with the patient as you listen. sitting across from them, taking their hands, making eye contact and singing along to the music is very beneficial.
6. If possible, get the patient up out of chair or bed and move to the music with them. You don't have to formally dance, but get them walking or stepping to the rhythms of the music.
7. Finally, repeat these same 5 or 6 familiar songs with them several times a day for at least a week. The next week you can take a different 5 or 6 songs.
You will begin to see the benefits almost immediately. Our study showed that patients who had an individualized 30-minute music session each day:
*slept better
*ate better
* were more sociable during the day
* were less combative during the day
and
*required less sleeping or calming medications
Is it worth the trouble? Absolutely! I have seen Alzheimer's patients literally "come to life again" during their music session. Give it a try and let me know if I can help you in any way.
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