Ten Decades - Our Mary
Mary loves music. She plays the mandolin in an orchestra and her penmanship is so precise, that the conductor has her write the musical scores for the entire orchestra.
(In the following photo, Mary is third row from the front. Standing on the far right.)
(In the following photo, Mary is third row from the front. Standing on the far right.)
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Music and MemoryMUSIC & MEMORY℠ is a non-profit organization that brings personalized music into the lives of the elderly or infirm through digital music technology, vastly improving quality of life.
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Mission and Vision
We train nursing home staff and other elder care professionals, as well as family caregivers, how to create and provide personalized playlists using iPods and related digital audio systems that enable those struggling with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other cognitive and physical challenges to reconnect with the world through music-triggered memories.
By providing access and education, and by creating a network of MUSIC & MEMORY℠ Certified organizations, we aim to make this form of personalized therapeutic music a standard of care throughout the health care industry.
By providing access and education, and by creating a network of MUSIC & MEMORY℠ Certified organizations, we aim to make this form of personalized therapeutic music a standard of care throughout the health care industry.
Brain-Music Connection
As we all know from hearing that song associated with a first love or leaving home for good, music is profoundly linked to personal memories.
In fact, our brains are hard-wired to connect music with long-term memory.
Even for persons with severe dementia, music can tap deep emotional recall. For individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s, memory for things—names, places, facts—is compromised, but memories from our teenage years can be well-preserved.
Favorite music or songs associated with important personal events can trigger memory of lyrics and the experience connected to the music. Beloved music often calms chaotic brain activity and enables the listener to focus on the present moment and regain a connection to others.
Persons with dementia, Parkinson’s and other diseases that damage brain chemistry also reconnect to the world and gain improved quality of life from listening to personal music favorites.
In fact, our brains are hard-wired to connect music with long-term memory.
Even for persons with severe dementia, music can tap deep emotional recall. For individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s, memory for things—names, places, facts—is compromised, but memories from our teenage years can be well-preserved.
Favorite music or songs associated with important personal events can trigger memory of lyrics and the experience connected to the music. Beloved music often calms chaotic brain activity and enables the listener to focus on the present moment and regain a connection to others.
Persons with dementia, Parkinson’s and other diseases that damage brain chemistry also reconnect to the world and gain improved quality of life from listening to personal music favorites.
For Caregivers
Create a Personalized Playlist for Your Loved One at Home
When a family member or dear friend develops Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, the experience is often overwhelming, stressful and exhausting for everyone involved.
As someone who provides care for your loved one at home, you need all the support you can get. We hope you will take advantage of the therapeutic benefits of personalized music and set up an iPod playlist for your loved one. You’re likely to experience a dramatic change in her ability to connect with you and the rest of the world, and you’ll also regain needed time for yourself while she enjoys her music.
You’ll find everything you need by downloading our free resource guide:
How to Create a Personalized Playlist for Your Loved One at Home
It includes step-by-step instructions about how to discover your loved one’s favorite music, how to set up an iTunes playlist and install it on an iPod, how to deal with equipment, set-up guidelines, recommended headphones and more.
As someone who provides care for your loved one at home, you need all the support you can get. We hope you will take advantage of the therapeutic benefits of personalized music and set up an iPod playlist for your loved one. You’re likely to experience a dramatic change in her ability to connect with you and the rest of the world, and you’ll also regain needed time for yourself while she enjoys her music.
You’ll find everything you need by downloading our free resource guide:
How to Create a Personalized Playlist for Your Loved One at Home
It includes step-by-step instructions about how to discover your loved one’s favorite music, how to set up an iTunes playlist and install it on an iPod, how to deal with equipment, set-up guidelines, recommended headphones and more.
Source: www.musicandmemory.org