Caregiver’s Corner by Pam Johnson
Who has not experienced the power of music and marveled at its ability to bring joy, ease pain and elevate our mood. Often when we hear a song, it is so much more than words and lyrics. It becomes the link to one of our special memories of a wonderful place in time.
The use of music as a viable treatment to improve heath is not a new concept. Writings of Aristotle and Plato from more than 2,000 years ago, indicate that music was used to treat demented older people. After WWI and WWII, veterans were exposed to music to aid in recovery from physical or emotional traumas. The many positive outcomes prompted a need for formal training and the first music therapy degree program was created in 1944.
Music Therapy is much more than merely listening to music or singing. It is designed to be a personal, interactive and engaging healthcare intervention. In more recent years, it has been recognized as an actual treatment for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
At the 2016 National Adult Day Services Association Conference, Andy Tubman, Co-Founder of Musical Technologies presented a demonstration of the SingFit® Prime Program. He explained that “with our technology and music therapist designed programming that includes trivia, movement and visual cues, our thousands of seniors are deeply engaging in a musical, whole-brain exercise daily.” Tubman added, that this program enables a “mass distribution of music as medicine.”
Friends Place is proud to announce that we have contracted with Musical Technologies to be able to provide our members with the vast benefits of SingFit®. Specific staff members have been selected to receive the specialized training and certification that will allow us to offer this amazing program beginning in January 2017.
We believe that music is medicine for those with dementia. It enables them to achieve and/or maintain an optimal level of physical, intellectual and emotional wellness. Music keeps life in motion.