Music and dementia

Grannie G

Volunteer Moderator
Apr 3, 2006
81,452
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Kent
Music certainly helped my husband. He was not a singer but he loved listening to music and watching DVDs of his favourites Andrea Bocelli and Nana Mouskouri.

Mind you I had to be careful. We were listening to Nana Mouskouri singing Everybody Hurts and he asked me to turn it off, saying it was too sad.

 

SKD

Registered User
Music definitely helps my Mum - she will sing along and sometimes dances and is generally put into a happier place - she and my Dad were great ballroom dancers - I have noticed that after a music session her speech, which has been deteriorating recently, shows a distinct if slight improvement. It's a short term gain which soon disappears but it's well worth having.
 

stanleypj

Registered User
Dec 8, 2011
10,712
0
North West
For several years l took S (latterly with help from our wonderful carer K) to a weekly event for people with dementia and other diseases/disabilities. It was and is led by a woman who had an infectious enthusiasm which drove the whole thing. Each week you could see people perking up and coming alive in response.
 
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nae sporran

Registered User
Oct 29, 2014
9,213
0
Bristol
Music definitely helps my Mum - she will sing along and sometimes dances and is generally put into a happier place - she and my Dad were great ballroom dancers - I have noticed that after a music session her speech, which has been deteriorating recently, shows a distinct if slight improvement. It's a short term gain which soon disappears but it's well worth having.
That's why I take OH to music memories, those little moments are well worth treasuring. How lovely for you SKD. :)
 

canary

Registered User
Feb 25, 2014
25,018
0
South coast
I wish OH responded to music, but he gets stimulus overload, doesnt like singing and if I put music on he asks me ti turn it off.
Theres a lot of silence in my house.
 

Grannie G

Volunteer Moderator
Apr 3, 2006
81,452
0
Kent
I have noticed that after a music session her speech, which has been deteriorating recently, shows a distinct if slight improvement. It's a short term gain which soon disappears but it's well worth having.

Wonderful. :)
 

Izzy

Volunteer Moderator
Aug 31, 2003
74,004
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72
Dundee
Music was so important in Bill’s life. We were (and I still am) members of our memories choir. Until the week before Bill died he still came to the weekly sessions with me. Somehow he could still read the words and join in. He remembered the words to some of the songs. He had a habit of calling out ‘yeehah’ if he particularly liked the song!

His carer, who has become a dear friend, is a classical tenor. While he was showering Bill you could hear the two of them belting out La Donna e Mobile and other opera favourites. It lifted his (and our) mood incredibly.

Latterly I got involved with the Playlist for Life approach. I think it was a bit late for Bill but I did it anyway. The songs chosen for the playlists are selected in discussion with the person with dementia and are intended to spark memories In the hope it it will lead to discussion. I had to choose Bill’s songs without his input. They sparked emotions if not memories. Some resulted in a tear running down his face, others in raucous laughter and some he joined in with. The film clips in this link are interesting. https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/playlist-in-action
 

Izzy

Volunteer Moderator
Aug 31, 2003
74,004
0
72
Dundee
Thinking about music and dementia made me think of this clip. It never fails to bring a year to my eye.

 

Sirena

Registered User
Feb 27, 2018
2,324
0
I sometimes visit my mother during the weekly Music For Health session at the care home, and it is noticeable the positive effect it has on the residents. The man who runs it is lovely and knows all their names and level of ability. He plays anything from Frank Sinatra to Abba, and classic music/opera. Several of the residents will get up and dance, a lot of them will join in singing or banging a tamborine. My mother is always up and dancing and she knows all the words to the songs without prompting, despite no longer being able to string together a five word sentence.

There is one resident however who hates it (possibly for the same reason as Canary's husband), she calls it 'noise' and walks the corridors complaining until it ends.
 

Paty

Registered User
Mar 31, 2019
13
0
Music is important to overcome and carry on with this disease , theres music for dementia in youtube
 

patbryn

Registered User
Mar 22, 2019
80
0
Wales
We always have classic FM on the radio, its not so manic as other stations and mum finds it less confusing more relaxing.
 

Loopiloo

Registered User
May 10, 2010
6,117
0
Scotland
Thanks for the link nae sporran. My husband adored music he had according lessons from when he was 12 could play the piano and later bought a good electrical keyboard. He could play anything on that from classical, opera to Scottish and much more. In the care home he loved when it was live music his hands would be going his feet tapping before he lost mobilty. And of course he would sing the Scottish songs, word perfect.

tt was a joy to see the positive effects on other residents even the very grumpy ones! And when some got up and danced, Henry would have joined them had it been possible. We were ballroom dancers (amateur) from our early 20s until Henrys stroke soon after his 60th birthday and early retirement - so that we could enjoy life! That one back fired on us!

Loo xx
Rididiculous someone being prevented because of stupid ( many are - having to be escorted through the grounds ? :rolleyes::eek:

The NHS is strangling its self with rules and regulations.

Loo xx



It was a joy to see other resdents
 

Loopiloo

Registered User
May 10, 2010
6,117
0
Scotland
Sorry about the errors etc., a combination of deteriorating eye sight and a keyboard with a mind of its own!
It especially likes to remove parts of what I type and insert them in a different area and neither parts then make sense.
 

nae sporran

Registered User
Oct 29, 2014
9,213
0
Bristol
Thanks for the link nae sporran. My husband adored music he had according lessons from when he was 12 could play the piano and later bought a good electrical keyboard. He could play anything on that from classical, opera to Scottish and much more. In the care home he loved when it was live music his hands would be going his feet tapping before he lost mobilty. And of course he would sing the Scottish songs, word perfect.

tt was a joy to see the positive effects on other residents even the very grumpy ones! And when some got up and danced, Henry would have joined them had it been possible. We were ballroom dancers (amateur) from our early 20s until Henrys stroke soon after his 60th birthday and early retirement - so that we could enjoy life! That one back fired on us!

Loo xx

Good to hear from you Lou. I think I probably a few of these songs too, from 1970s television shows with Andy Stewart and the like. You and Henry had quite a life with all the songs, him playing the music and you both dancing the night away.
I was listening to an accordion and piano player called Donald Shaw, of Capercaillie, saying when he was at school in the 80s nobody else wanted to play it and now so many are taking it up.
 

Loopiloo

Registered User
May 10, 2010
6,117
0
Scotland
Thanks nae sporran.

I think the 1970s was a fantastic time concerning music and some great songwriters - and singers!

Yes life was good although one does not always appreciate that at the time! Memories grow more precious as time goes by.....

Loo. xxx