Hi. My father had dementia for 12 years before he passed away 2 1/2 years ago. I am now doing research into ways of enhancing the quality of life people with dementia have. I go to a day centre every week and spend time with 10 clients who have Alz. I hope to develop something that will enable people with dementia to be creative themselves.

Musical activities seem to work especially well, with clients remembering lyrics from songs they used to sing long ago. You can see the joy in their faces as they sing, hum or tap along to the music.

Although I haven't seen any art activities take place yet, I've read that some people with dementia really enjoy painting and/or drawing, either retaining skills they once had or finding a new enthusiasm to create artwork.

I'd be really interested to hear details from anyone who has seen someone enjoying music or art.

May I share my mother in-law loves music and we sing the old tunes every day...I am sure that singing them over and over every day helps her remember the words and I can see in her eyes she really enjoys the old songs like the Tennessee Waltz and she also likes to color with crayons but she likes the music best..

Dear Philippa and Rosie,

You guys are so right. It's amazing how my Dad will start singing at the drop of a hat! He realy enjoys it. Not something he ever did much before.

Also, when he gets upset, I'll start singing something funny, and he'll stop and smile or join it.

It's these little successes that make my day.

Eileen

Hi

It's really good to hear that other people are having such postive experiences with music and art, although I think music seems to be most widely enjoyed.

Just a little story to reiterate what you have already said...

I took my keyboard with me to the day centre last week to play well known songs. On one occasion I intentionally played wrong notes (just for fun), in a Les Dawson type fashion. The clients there really laughed when I played the wrong notes - showing that they both recognised when something was played wrongly and also proving their sense of humour is still intact. [This may seem a silly comment, but some people seem to think that when you have a dementia, you must lose all abilities - this is obviously not true.]

Later on, I played a piece using the sound of an accordian, with a carer suggesting everyone sing along, but by making the sound of the bagpipes (I'm in Scotland). Most people joined in, with others watching and laughing. It was really funny.

It was a really good session. It was lovely to see everyone awake, having fun and laughing.

Keep your comments coming - they're really helpful for me and good to hear for everyone else too. Lots of ideas of what to do with friends and family.

Philippa : )

My mother listens to music on her ipod for hours. She sings and dances while listening. It keeps her occupied and gives me pleasure to see her so happy.It also gives me a break.

My grandparents were both musicians in a big band. Grandpa played bari sax and Grandma played piano. Grandma still enjoys playing, although she is always hard on herself when her fingers don't do what they are supposed to do.
It is amazing how she can play hundreds of songs off the top of her head.

She still loves to read whether it be the news paper, a book, or a magazine. However, sometimes I think she is just reading words-not absorbing the sentences.

Grandma likes to go along shopping -any kind of shopping as long as there's people watching- in her wheelchair. I call it her personal chariot. She also loves to ride in the car.

We take her to sing-alongs at local assisted living homes. She likes the live music and knows all the songs.

Phillipa,

Music has been a saving grace for me, especially whenever I am just about to go down for the third time.

When my mother is at her most difficult, I will leave the room for a minute and then upon reentering the room I will walk in singing a hymn, or a song she used to sing when we were young, and she will just join right in. By the time that the song ends, she has forgotten that she was upset and I have almost forgotten that I want to bang my head against the wall. Almost, but not quite.

Each summer I have flown my mother and her husband to Texas and then driven them through Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana so that they could visit with family and friends. They enjoy those trips, tremendously, but I will admit that they wears me down both physically and mentally.

My stepfather is very hard of hearing and my mother is repetitive. Add those two things together and you get to hear her say the same thing 9 times, each time she makes a comment to him.

He refuses to wear his hearing amplifier.

She cannot sit quiet and enjoy the scenery.

My solution is to pop in CDs of music they know and then the three of us sing our way down the highway.

If my mother is being difficult, I just turn up the radio and she eventually forgets the issue and begins singing.

At home we have other avenues of dealing with issues, but when I am locked in a car with those two - music has been the solution to many a problem!

My mother sang in the choir at her church up until last year when a friend/choir member told me that it was time for her to quit the choir.

She has problems with reading, but knows every hymn by heart and so she just holds the hymnal (sometimes upside down) and sings from memory.

Music is the tie that binds in this house.

My mom has always liked the classic music and when it was not sick it was always a good relaxation way, but since she has AD she sits down to listen it and she cries so much that it puts me nervous, she scares me a lot that it passes her something, she says that she reminds her siblings, recently deceaseds (in March of the 2004 and in September of the 2005). I wonder if it will be some type of masochism. Don't I know that to make, she adores music , but will it be harmful that makes suffer so much instead of comforting her?

Calypso, if classical music distresses her try a different kind - hymns, folk songs, easy listening oldies.

My mother was a piano teacher for over 50 years. I think the most painful day was when she said that she just couldn't remember how to play anymore. I had taken my keyboard to her room. I had to borrow it for a perfomance and asked if she wanted it back soon. She said it was too painful to have and not to bring it back. My heart is broken. I know hers is also. Also, without the keyboard there as a reminder I think she will soon forget that she ever played the piano at all.

Once a week I have "choir practice" at the assisted living facility my mother lives at. We usually start with our faithful six or seven ladies. By the time we are through there are 16 to 20 people there! We sing primarily hymns, but I also do secular songs - folk songs, fun songs from the fifties and sixties, etc. Then we go back to the hymns. Even for the not-so-religious ones they seem to enjoy those the best.

Singing is good for you on so many levels! Physically it helps promote good breathing - oxygen to the brain is always a good thing! It exercises the mind to read or remember the words and how to make your voice go up or down the right way. Sharing a fun experience with other people is good on an emotional level. The words of a hymn often give comfort in a unique way. Who hasn't been touched just listening to Amazing Grace?

Our choir practices tend to become a mini-worship service, even with the secular songs. When the head nurse's National Guard Unit was called to Iraq we had a spontaneous prayer service for her and the other going with her.

These ladies wait for Monday so we can sing together. If I'm there after supper and have the time I'll just sit and play the piano for them as they mill about. Music can touch a person in a way nothing else can.

Music has been the most important aspect of S's life. S is a man of 84 living in a memory unit. His life always included music especially songs of the 20's, 30's and 40's. In spite of being in the mid stage of Alz. he can recall the words to practically any song written by Berlin, Porter, Rogers & Hart, etc. The caregivers at the unit have learned that S hates to get up, talks about dying, gets verbally abusive. They have started bringing in a cd into his room, putting on a disc and leaving him alone for about 10 minutes. When they return, he's wide awake singing and ready to get up. I think music is better therapy than any medication. The problem is keeping it going all day long.
Question: Is there a chat room dedicated to activities (other than music) that can enrigh the lives of those with alz.?

Hi George

I have to agree that music is certainly good therapy! One lady at the day centre I attend can be quite agitated and sometimes aggressive, but as soon as we play some music she becomes much calmer and dances, or sits in her chair moving her hands and arms to the music. It really is amazing.

I've also just experienced my first art activity at the centre too. We spent a morning making cards (for all occasions) and I found that those who participated (including carers and volunteers) were absorbed in the activity for the whole morning (about 2 hours). Although some reading suggest people with dementia enjoy only the process of being creative, I found that everyone wanted to show off their own work and take an interest in everyone else's. It was great..!

I do think music is more universal, in that those people who are unable to participate in crafting, can appreciate listening/moving to music. However, I appreciate that art can be just as therapeutic. It may be useful to have some examples to help those people who are perhaps not so artistic.

George.., in answer to your question re a chat room dedicated to activities, I don't know of one. However, you might like to look at the book by James R Dowling - Keeping Busy: A Handbook for Activities for Persons with Dementia. ISBN: 0-8018-5059-2.

Also, thanks to all who responded to my initial message. It's really helpful to see how many of you have had positive experiences with music (and other activities). Keep your messages coming : )

Philippa

Hello,
I work as an Arist in Residence for the Alzhemier's Association in a program titled Memories in the Making. Have you ever heard of it? Currently, I work at several facilities in the San Diego California County hosting therapeutic art group with the alzheimer community. It has been wonderfully rewarding both for myself and the artists (alzhemier adults) who participate. As in everything, the process is complicated. For some, renewed creativity brings about a rebirth. For others, it reminds them how much capability they have lost. In either case I believe that it is my job to ensure that each artist leaves the art group feeling a little better/more alive and smiling- even sometimes through tears.
I'd have volumes to say about my experience, but for now, I'll just leave you with this-my two cents.. Hope it helps

Hi Andrea,

I'm glad you've witnessed people with dementia being creative as that's what my research is concerned with - musical creativity and dementia.

For those struggling with activities to do, art can be something anyone can try. Certainly I did a card crafting morning at Alzheimer Scotland and this was really successful. The clients AND carers who joined in were really surprised at what they could do, as they did not all consider themselves to be 'arty'. One client appeared to have an artistic background, as he placed his cut-out flowers beautifully around the card. We did this activity for a full 2 hours, and no-one seemed fed up, bored or frustrated. It was great to be a part of...

With regards to my research with music, I have recently witnessed another volunteer teach a new song to the clients and carers. Every Friday they practice this song, and many remember the tune, if not the lyrics.

I think it's a matter of being brave enough to try things out...

Philippa

My grandma was always a great dancer. She and my grandpa used to jitterbug all the time. She is now in the advanced stages of alz, but still remembers how to do the jitterbug. It's so amazing! She got right on the dance floor at my wedding and jitterbugged with my aunt. She still remembers!

I wanted to share a moment I had when volunteering at Alzheimer Scotland a few weeks ago. I was taking requests from clients/volunteers for music to play on my keyboard, and "I'm Henry The Eighth" was chosen. As I began playing, another volunteer suddenly sprang up and began taking some balloons that had been on a table. He started to hit them into the air so they would come down near the clients. The response from the clients, carers and volunteers was instant laughter. Everyone was hitting the balloons whilst still singing to the music, or really laughing - we did 4 verses. It was a great moment

Hi. I'm sorry to hear about your father. My Great Aunt also had dimentia and passed away last year.

About your work - Fabulous. Music is something people can connect with without having to participate by singing or playing an instrument if they are unable to - participation through listening.

I am doing some preliminary research on Dance and Alzheimers after working with physically disabled dancers.

Best wishes with your research.

Hi. Sorry also to hear about your Great Aunt.

Really interesting that you mention participation through listening. I find people think a person is not enjoying the music if they're not moving around or singing, but many of us just like to sit and listen to music - taking it in - and people with dementia are no different.

Your research sounds interesting. I remember one lady who was generally quite agitated, and could often be verbally abusive. However, as soon as music began playing, she would immediately change. If she was standing, she would either dance alone or with one of the carers/volunteers, and if she was sitting she would make quite pronounced arm movements, moving her upper body to the music - her eyes closed. It appeared to be quite a moving experience for her.

I hope your research goes well, and helps to show just how therapeutic activities such as dance/music can be.

Best of luck : )

Hello

I run a project called Renew You. Its run through Age Concern, and we offer creative and expressive arts for our client group. We offer a range of exercise, tai chi, yoga, belly dancing, aromatherapy, reiki, massage, lots of music, participating in music workshops, arts sessions and trips to museum storage centres and reminisence work.

This project has vastly improved the clients health and well-being. The stories that have been collated after these sessions have been recorded. The project has been running for a year, and we have another 3 years left to run.
Claire Dyson
Renew You Project Manager
Age Concern Birmingham

I just joined this MB...what a great topic. I work with the elderly everyday and have been for the past 12 years. I have seen the effects of AD on so many - both the patients and their caregivers. Now my Mom is in the first stages of AD.

My parents have always loved to listen to music & dance. My Dad is so patient, loving and kind with Mom, and always seems to keep her laughing and happy. They bought this house they are living in 2 years ago one for the amount of land and other for the hard wood floors that they can use for a dance floor. I have noticed that when there is music playing, Mom is more receptive and is usually put in a very happy mood. I truly believe that there is something in music that sparks our souls...that is something that cannot be lost.
Phillippa, keep up the wonderful work, what a beautiful way to touch someone's heart!

Hi again

Claire, your project sounds really interesting. I'd love to find out more about the positive affect the activities you're doing are having. I hope you don't mind if I try tracking you down at Age Concern?

I haven't really explained fully what I'm doing. I want to bring active music making to people with dementia, irrespective of their musical background. Learning to play musical instruments is difficult enough for most of us to do, without having the additional problems that dementia brings. My research aims to find out if technology can facilitate music making, and I'm developing a tool that I hope will enable people with dementia to produce music in an easy way.

I have been lucky enough to play music throughout my life. My dad did too, and I think he would have loved to have been able to play music when he had dementia. I hope this is the same for those who have never played too. I know computers can be scary for some, but I am endeavouring to make this tool as inviting as possible and extremely easy to use (moving one finger around on a touch screen to make music). I hope to begin trialling the tool soon, so by the end of the year may have some experiences, hopefully positive, to share

Sorry to hear about your mum, Alicia. One positive I took from my dad's illness is that I got to know him in a different way - he shared his experiences and feelings with me and I don't think he would have done that without having dementia. I hate that he was ill, but it did mean that we got closer...

It's great that your mum and dad share a love of dancing. I'm sure that music and dance will have a big part to play in helping you, your mum and your dad in the coming years.

I take care of my 83 yr old M-I-L and she too loves too sing . She can't stand it when I have household chores to do and will yell for me every 3 minutes or so. What I do when I really need to get things done is sing like the southern pearchers daughter I am. My husband has come home several times and caught me singing "One Day At A Time" at the top of my lungs. Now a days that song seems to be my theme song. God bless each of you and I know though we feel we go thru hell on earth somedays.... We'll all meet in Heaven for the love, patience and understanding we show our AD loved ones.

Claire and Philippa,

It may be of some interest to you that my local Salvation Army integrates art and music into their adult day care. They have local teachers come in on different days of the week to lead craft projects, music sing alongs, and very moderate dance for those still able. The people there all seem to love it very much.

A bigger hit, however, is the dog show that comes once a month. A lady nearby has several dogs who compete in dog competitions, and they come and do all manner of tricks. That's probably the biggest favorite, and everybody from ages 5 to 95 enjoys it equally.

Just a thought...