Hi
@Shelleydvr
Firstly, welcome to the Talking Point forum.
I hope you will get replies that will help you.
I do not have dementia, but I am the full time carer for my wife who has Alzheimer's disease and I've been caring for her for about 6 years.
Apart from music you have suggested, one way to get family and friends to know more about "the condition" (bearing in mind that there are several types, and each person may have their own path of development) is for them read about it.
Both the Alzheimer's Society and the Dementia Society have ideas about books that can help and/or inform etc. You can, of course, search online.
One is "All the Dancing Birds" by Auburn McCanta which tries to explain things from the point of view of the person with dementia - and may help "verbalise" the position.
There are some excellent poems already on this forum. At the head of the page, across the top are a list of things, one is "Forums" and if you click on that it will bring up the different conversation threads, and of you scroll down, you'll come to a yellow heading saying "Members Area" and under that is the heading "Poems" - click on that.
Example 1:
DEMENTIA... A SLIP IN TIME
Where am I? Where am I? You hear me cry,
It all looks so different, why oh why?
How did I get here? where is this place?
Who’s sat over there? An unfamiliar face!
This isn't my house, this is not my chair,
Why is life so very unfair?
I want to go home, I don't want to be here,
In strange surroundings, feeding my fear,
Then I am back, as quick as I went,
And all around me is heaven sent,
My beautiful wife sat right there
Here I am again, sat in my chair,
How long was I gone? it's just a slip in time,
I can never be sure what really is mine.
by Norrms McNamara
Example2:
ENCOURAGEMENT
If with pleasure you are viewing any work that I am doing,
If you like me or you love me - tell me now.
Don't withhold your approbation till the Father makes oration
And I lie with snowy lilies o'er my brow.
For no matter how you shout it, I won't care much about it,
I won't see how many tear drops you have shed.
If you think some praise is due me, now's the time to slip it to me,
For I cannot read my tombstone when I'm dead.
More than fame and more than money, is the comment warm and sunny,
Is the hearty warm approval of a friend,
For it gives to life a savour, and it makes me stronger, braver,
And it gives to me the spirit to the end.
If I earn your praise bestow it; if you like me let me know it;
Let the words of true encouragement be said.
Do not wait till life is over and I'm underneath the clover,
For I cannot read my tombstone when I'm dead.
Example 3:
ALZHEIMERS POEM
Don’t ask me to remember, don’t try to make me understand.
Let me know that you are with me, kiss my cheek and hold my hand.
I am confused beyond your concept, I am sad and sick and lost,
All I know is that I need you, to be with me at all cost.
Do not lose your patience with me, do not scold or curse or cry,
l can’t help the way I am acting, can’t be different though I try.
Just remember that I need you, that the best of me is gone,
Please don’t fail to stand beside me, love me till my life is done.
By Owen Darnell