Bohemian Rhapsody
Don’t Stop Believing
Isn’t She Lovely
Stairway to Heaven
Uptown Funk
How Deep is Your Love
Rocky Mountain High
Journey
Bruce Springsteen
Franki Valli
This is the music of my time. When I hear these songs or artists, I remember events…people…experiences…life. If I have dementia, help me remember my music….help me remember my life.
Several years ago, I was introduced to a program called Music & Memory (www.musicandmemory.org) at an industry conference. Founder, Dan Cohen, was the closing keynote speaker, and left an indelible impression on me. Cohen started Music & Memory with a simple notion: if he ever ended up in a nursing home, he wanted to hear 60s music. His parting words to us were, “What music would be on your playlist?” I’ve been building my playlist ever since.
Music & Memory – The Program
The premise of the program is to incorporate iPods and custom music lists as an every day care methodology. Whether it’s an elder in a nursing home, someone with mental illness or dementia, on dialysis, chemotherapy or hospice, customized music can calm agitation, enhance engagement, provide relaxation, improve delivery of care, and bring pleasure to people, even those in their last moments of life. The key is to build a customized playlist that contains music with special meaning to the individual.
The Science
I think it’s pretty obvious that music triggers something in humans, right? We’ve all experienced it…we hear a song on the radio, and it immediately throws us into a memory. For me, any Journey or Bruce Springsteen song reminds me of college, drinking Amaretto Stone Sours, singing at the top of our lungs, learning and growing up, and terrific friends that are still in my life, if only from a distance. (I’ll leave the rest of the memories in the ‘don’t embarrass yourself’ bucket!) How Deep is Your Love by the BeeGees reminds me of high school and learning the words in Spanish when I was in Mexico. Somewhere Over the Rainbow will always make me think of my mom.
In 2009, researchers at UC-Davis proved that there’s an actual physical reaction in the brain with music, and it happens in the medial pre-frontal cortex, which is located right behind the forehead. Researchers conducted scan tests on college students while playing Billboard Top 100 music from when they were ages 8-18. According to the researchers, the same area of the brain lights up with self-reflection or autobiographical recall. (attribution: https://www.livescience.com/5327-music-memory-connection-brain.html)
So here’s the key – the medial pre-frontal cortex, it’s believed, is where music, memory and emotion all intersect. What’s most important is that same area of the brain is one of the last areas affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia. So…if you’re working that noggin of yours along with me, you’re seeing the connection. Music has the potential to positively impact our memory, engagement, and emotions, right to the end. Fascinating stuff!
In Practice
When I worked in senior living, I was involved in introducing Music & Memory to my residents in our memory care neighborhoods. Our first step was to talk with family members to better understand exactly which songs mom or dad liked best, which might evoke a good memory of times gone by. After a bit of trial and error, we even determined that certain singers had a better impact over others. With the support of an amazing group of high school volunteers, many of our residents had custom play lists on a personal iPod that brought about smiles, toe-tapping, finger-snapping, or singing along. When a resident may be feeling some unrest, the team would offer the iPod to them. Once the headphones were on (headphones preferred so they cancel out any other irritating background noise), we saw an immediate change in a person’s demeanor, pure joy light up their face! The transformation was amazing.
Alive Inside – A Must-Watch Documentary
If you’re not convinced, watch the documentary Cohen produced called Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory, which journals Cohen’s study on music, memory and emotions, and his launch of the Music & Memory program. It is an absolute must-watch. There are public screenings (http://www.aliveinside.us/#land) available. Or, watch a 6-minute segment called Henry’s Story, easily found on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FWn4JB2YLU).
My music list is starting to look much like my book list…long! Because I’ve always loved music of all sorts, I know it will play an integral part in my life to the end, regardless of whether I have dementia or not. I can see how my list will play out…we’ll swing with 40s, head on over to a little country, take a left at hip hop, then settle in with classical piano. It’s going to be quite a ride, and I’m going to LOVE it!
What you Need
If you are caring for someone who struggles to have more good days than bad, consider developing a custom playlist for them. It can be a terrific activity to do with them, with storytelling to help them remember better days. A simple iPod Shuffle or similar product is sufficient, and music is widely available for purchase online. The music list doesn’t have to be long; it needs to be positively impactful. The key is to have headphones, not ear buds, so that external noise is blocked and the person can focus on the music.
A Program for Anyone
While the Music & Memory program got its roots in dementia care and care of those with mental illness and depression, it’s a program that anyone can benefit from. I have three playlists at the ready anytime – 1 to give me energy (I listen to this on my commute to work); 1 to calm my mind (this one is for the commute home, for when I’m reading or meditating); 1 for activities like walking, cleaning, etc. As I find a song that touches me, I add it to my lists.
Finding Help
If you’re unsure what an iPod is, or how or where to build a custom playlist, reach out to your church, temple, synagogue, etc. Oftentimes, these organizations have volunteer groups to help members with technology. Or, reach out to your local high school. Many require their students to contribute community service hours. Your local library might have technology resources, or can refer you to a service organization. Finally, check with your local aging and disability resource center, community center or senior center for volunteer support.
How about you…What songs would be on your playlist? What songs evoke wonderful memories you hope to never forget? Comment below…
