Benefits of Music on Move-In Day: Intangible, But Very Real
What’s the value of a smile? Of a dance? Of finding one’s place in a new community? Imagine you’ve just moved to a memory care community. It’s disorienting, to say the least. Your daughter is right there by your side, and everyone is really nice, saying, “Bob, how are you doing?” “Bob, would you like…
Read More5 Surprising Ways To Age Out Loud
The news is out – people over the age of 65 are living differently than the senior citizens of decades gone by. No more do you have to plan on finishing up the last year of your life in a quiet retirement home somewhere. Nope, now you can age out loud. Of course, there are…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “Beyond the Sunset”
Theme/Topic: Anticipatory Grief, Goodbye Mood/Tempo: Thoughtful, processing, slow Genre/Style: Country, Gospel You may hear “Beyond the Sunset” at funerals, perhaps when a spouse has passed away after decades of marriage. In a hospice setting, it can lead into important existential conversations, or it could simply provide a non-verbal container for two people to express their love for one…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “Annie’s Song”
Theme/Topic: Love, Nature Mood/Tempo: Easy listening, moderate tempo Genre/Style: Folk Rock/Country Many of our patients here in the Midwest love John Denver’s music. While most people know his popular songs “Country Roads” and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” I have found “Annie’s Song” to be particularly special in eldercare because of its beautiful words…
Read MoreNew Humorous Verses for "Let Me Call You Sweetheart"
If you’ve been around eldercare for a while, you’ve probably heard the song “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” Despite the fact that this song, published in 1910, is older that almost all of the clients we serve, it remains a popular choice, simply because many, many people know the melody and the words. In terms…
Read MoreBook Review: "Songs You Know By Heart"
As a music therapist in eldercare, I appreciate any resource that encourages more music-making among elders and their caregivers. Sadly, many caregivers are put off by the false assumption that they “can’t sing” or “aren’t musical.” Likewise, it can be difficult to know how to encourage older adults to participate in singing and moving to…
Read MoreStay for a Little While: A Song Celebrating Young Caregivers
Our friend Bakhus Saba, who cares for his mother who has dementia, has released a new song with the message that children bring smiles and happiness to loved ones living with dementia. This song has an uplifting, cheerful feeling that indeed matches the in-the-moment happiness that I often see in the experiences of older adults…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “A Place In The Sun”
Theme: Sunshine, Hope Mood: Hopeful, Optimistic Style: Soul Have you talked about the weather yet today? Weather is a reliable conversation starter in just about every group of people, including groups that include older adults and caregivers. Of course, we can rejoice or commiserate over the actual outside conditions or reminisce about the worst snowstorm/tornado/flood…
Read MoreTop 10 Songs About The Weather
I don’t know what it’s like in your neck of the woods, but here in the Midwest, the weather is a popular topic of discussion. It doesn’t matter whether it’s rainy, snowy, or a perfectly sunny day – the weather is a pretty reliable conversation starter. Here’s a collection of 10 songs about the weather,…
Read MoreTop 10 Rules To Break In Music Therapy Groups In Senior Living
As diligent students, we music therapists graduate from our programs and become board-certified with certain ideas of how things should work in music therapy sessions. But of course, music therapists work with people, and with human beings, there is an exception to every rule. As I’ve matured as a clinician, I have gained flexibility in…
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