Joyful, Emotional, Effective, Profound

Monday Evening, Veterans Day...November 11, 2013...thinking of my Daddy today

Today was a really interesting day.  My first stop were 2 Ladies...one is elderly and has some Dementia  and the other is younger and has just recently been put in Hospice Care.  She is having such a hard time dealing with this.  When I come to the door of their room, both of them light up!  The younger patient told me she had been looking for me.  I reminded her I don't come part of the week..that I would not forget about playing for them.  I created these lovely notices I put on the Patient's Door when I have given a Therapeutic Session, they simply say:....On November 11, 2013, Ms. ????? has received 30 minutes of Live Therapeutic Music, thoughtfully prepared and played by Therapeutic Harpist, Jacqueline A. Elgie.  This is on pretty parchment paper and the patients LOVE these...it's like their certificate or something.  So the younger patient told me she was looking for more paper on her door by her name...she said "I want to wallpaper that door with them!".  Very sweet.  So the older patient today was not only singing at the top of her lungs but she was waving both hands up in the air while she did it.  The younger patient got so tickled, she said "you go girl....sing them songs"  Joyful

My next patient is very elderly and has Alzheimer's.  Normally she does not communicate and after a few minutes, I can always tell when the Music is reaching her and having a positive effect.  It's very heartwarming...but today as I played, she looked at me and started crying!  So I stopped and went to her and asked her if the Music made her sad?  She said, "no beautiful" and I said do you want me to stop playing?  "not yet"....so I said , your tears are tears of happiness and joy and she said, "yes, I am there"....Emotional

I was walking to the computer room while my Companion was being showered and I always walk past a Unit that has some real hard to handle Alzheimer's Patients, normally out by the Nurses Station where they can keep an eye on them.  It seems the evening is the most difficult time there.  So today I asked the Nurse if I could bring my Harp and set up by the patients, she was thrilled.  So I played for about 40 minutes...not only did the patients quiet down, swing their legs and arms, try to sing and some sat with their eyes closed, completely relaxed, but the Staff was so peaceful as well.  I heard one Nurse say to another, "can we have her everyday????"  .......Effective

When I was playing for my Companion, she had just been showered and was tucked in bed.  She loves the music and as I was playing I looked at her and she seemed like a beautiful, little girl.  So peaceful, so full of love and life.  If only she could talk to me.....Profound