Transcript Music & Memory

Christi Clark, ALA, CMIS
Education and Outreach Coordinator
What is Music and Memory?
MUSIC & MEMORY℠ is a nonprofit organization that brings
personalized music into the lives
of people suffering from
Alzheimer’s Disease, or other
forms of dementia through
digital music technology.
A program designed to improve
quality of life by giving the
person access to music they love.
Henry clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyZQf0p73QM
Who Benefits…
People living with:
– Dementia
– Depression
– Loss of mobility/physical function
– Chronic progressive illness
– Loneliness
– CAREGIVERS
Why it works…
• As we all know from hearing a song
associated with a first love, our high
school prom or our favorite hymn, can
bring back memories as music is
profoundly linked to personal memories.
• In fact, our brains are hard-wired to
connect music with long-term memory.
Brain-Music Connection
• Even for persons with severe dementia,
music can tap deep emotional recall. For
individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s
memory for things-names, places, factsis compromised, but memories from our
teenage years can be well-preserved.
Brain-Music Connection
• 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.
The Musical Key to Unlocking Memory…
• Musical memory is profoundly linked to
emotions.
• These memories are stored deep in the brain. While
Alzheimer’s damages the ability to recall facts and
details, it does not destroy these lasting connections
between a favorite song and memory of an important
life event, no matter how long ago.
• When individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s or
dementia hear a melody connected with a meaningful
memory, they can re-awaken. Many people who have
not spoken in years find words and sing lyrics. They
often regain the ability to converse and connect to
those around them.
• The key is a personalized playlist.
How does it work…
• First, information is gathered about
what music is (was) meaningful to the
person.
• Next, the music files (songs) are collected
on a computer.
• Finally, the personalized playlist is
loaded onto an iPod and given to the
person to be enjoyed.
iPod Shuffle…
Therapeutic Benefits…
• A way to give pleasure to persons with advanced dementia
• Increases cooperation and attention, reduces resistance to
care—a real boost for staff morale
• Reduces agitation and sundowning
• Enhances engagement and socialization, fostering a calmer
social environment
• Provides a valuable tool for the effort to reduce reliance on
anti-psychotic medications
Facility Outcomes…
• Residents are happier and more social.
• Relationships among staff, residents and family deepen.
• Everyone benefits from a calmer, more supportive social
environment.
• Staff regain valuable time previously lost to behavior
management issues.
• There is growing evidence that a personalized music
program gives professionals one more tool in their effort
to reduce reliance on anti-psychotic medications.
GMU iPod Pilot Study
iPod Pilot Study
• Staff identified the late afternoon as a highstress transition time as participants begin to
be picked up by family or other transportation.
• Our study is designed to examine the effects
of personalized music during this high-stress
transition time (3:00-5:00 pm).
• Control group participants and intervention
group participants not listening to their iPods
are involved in the scheduled center activities.
(31 study participants)
Preliminary Findings
• Common Themes (Intervention Group)
– Engaging
– Worrying
– Confusing
– Wandering
– Socializing
– Vocalizing/Talking
Engaging
• A 76-year old male in the mid-stage
program becomes very engaged when he
listens to his iPod. Sometimes he talks
about his past work experiences, where he
lived and went to school, hums to the
music, or pretends to play the guitar. He is
much more verbal when he has his iPod on
than when he is in the large group. His
music also seems to stimulate him and help
him recall memories. He listens to his iPod
an average for about 48 minutes.
Engaging
• An 81-year-old woman in the Late-Stage
program listens to her iPod for an average of
33 minutes. She is non-verbal, but when she
listens to the music, she sometimes answers
staff’s questions clearly and loudly. She moves
her body forward and back as she listens to the
music, and at times moves her hand up and down
in rhythm. Her husband told one of the
researchers that she used to sing all the time,
but doesn’t anymore. However, it is clear that
the music triggers some positive reactions.
Wandering
• A 91-year-old male in the mid-stage program
has had mixed reactions to his personalized
iPod. At times, he appears to enjoy the music
and becomes more alert and engaged; other
times he seemed to be asleep or is quite stoic
while listening to the iPod. He often refuses
when asked if he wants to listen to his music,
but he does not resist and then seems to enjoy
the music if he agrees. He often wanders
around the facility, both with and without the
headphones on. When he would agree, he listens
for an average of 28 minutes.
Vocalizing/Talking
• A 75-year-old male in the mid-stage
program enjoys listening to his iPod. He
verbalizes with rapid speech, and taps
his feet and claps his hands to the
rhythm. Although it is difficult to
understand what he is saying, he “chats”
quite a bit while he is listening to his
iPod. He listens to his music for an
average of about 39 minutes.
How to create a successful program…
• Establishing an iTunes library
• Sharing songs legally
• Setting up personalized playlists
• Acquiring and managing equipment, including security and hygiene
• Gaining staff buy-in
• Engaging families
• Building community advocacy and support
Certified Care Facilities in Virginia…
Insight Memory Care Center
Annandale Adult Day Health Center-Annandale
Goodwin House- Falls Church, Falls Church
Heritage Hall, Leesburg
Herndon Harbor Adult Day Health Center, Herndon
Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church
Kendal at Lexington
Lewinsville Adult Day Health Center-McLean
Lexington Court Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Richmond
Lincolnia Adult Day Health Center, Alexandria
Mount Vernon Center Adult Day Health Care, Alexandria
Pacifica Senior Living, Virginia Beach
Sunnyside Retirement Community, Harrisonburg
The Gardens At Warwick Forest, Newport News
Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge, Charlottesville
www.musicandmemory.org