Thursday Evening, October 17, 2013....we are up in the Mountains along the Shenandoah River at the State Park....Fortunately, and no thanks to our Congress, we made our Reservations a few months ago at a STATE park...never thinking our National Parks would be closed down.....we just returned from a long Hike...temps are about 65...a light rain earlier but crisp and beautiful as the Sun goes down...
I wanted to write about my new job...a Companion for my dear Lady, that I have been playing a Session for the last few months. As fate would have it, her Companion quit and the family asked if it would be something I would be interested in doing.....I jumped at the opportunity! There was nothing but + + + for us all. I would get to spend 3 consecutive afternoons a week giving my Lady a Therapeutic Music Session. The other is her roommate that is Hospice Care, is also receiving Therapeutic Music 3 days a week. The third and most wonderful thing, is I also get the opportunity to play Piano, walk outside and read to my Lady friend.
I think I have a routine worked out now. I am also doing my Internship Hours at this Facility. I come in about 2 hours early and have a list of Residents that receive no outside stimulation, as they are bed bound. Some are Hospice and some are just so sick they can not leave their room.
I have had wonderful responses from these Residents. For those who were reluctant to have Music (this is because they think they have to interact with me) because they feel so ill, they now smile when I come to the door and are thrilled to have me. Some sing, some sleep with a smile on their face and some ask me not to leave them.
As far as my Lady.....I can only say that the Therapeutic Music has made a huge difference in her communication skills with her Family. As an Alzheimer's Patient, we know we can’t cure her disease, but the gift of being able to communicate a little longer is immeasurable. Below are some quotes taken from her Family’s Emails, sent to me over the last few weeks....it doesn’t get any better than this:
Daughter #1
October 8th....”Another great day! Thanks for you help with mom this week. She is much more responsive and alert than she's been in a long time”
October 14th....”Mom is doing well. She wasn't as responsive to my dad as she was for me. She answered my questions or when I made the statement, "you look tired", she said, "I sure am". Yes, from a faint "huff" for answer/comment to a "I sure am". Remarkable. And, this was at 7:00 p.m. at night, when she is usually the most out of it, "Sundown".
October 14th.....Also, it has been so long since I have seen her Roommate awake or responsive. She would wake and fall back to sleep talking to me. When I went the last two times she was sitting up in her bed, watching tv and talking! I arrived at 2:00 last week and tip toed into the room to drop off my mom's laundry. To my surprise, she was awake, watching television. I told her I would be back in a little bit. I returned at 4:00 and she was still awake. She did nod off for a half hour or so and then back awake until I left at 5:30. I haven't seen her so lively in, I don't know how long.”
So, both mom and and her Roommate are responding well to your music. No doubt in my mind that is what is doing it. I will be visiting the nursing home tomorrow. I will see how she is doing since my last visit, almost a week ago. Thanks for your music therapy!
Daughter #2
October 8th.....Jackie - I believe the harp music is helping to stimulate her brain and we are seeing more of "her" than we have in a long time. My father made that comment the other day. He said she had said the most he has heard out of her in a year and he could tell she was present and listening. He kissed her goodbye and seemed so happy. For a long time he would pat her on the head and say goodbye. Not sure why, but he was happy to see her the other day.
October 8th .....My Sister has been sending me email after she visits Mom saying that she did not want to leave because Mom was actually answering her questions and she knew what my sister was asking her. She knew she was in touch with Mom.”
Music finds it’s way through the Back Door of the Brain....it can reach the unreachable
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