Song Spotlight: “Lazybones”

Genre: 1930s Popular Song

Mood: Light-hearted Themes: Rest, Relaxation, Lazy days Tempo: Slow Genre/Style: 1930s Popular Song In 1933, Hoagy Carmichael wrote the melody to this catchy tune and Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics. Not only was “Lazybones” popular during the 30s, it has been sung by artists as diverse as Hank Snow, the Supremes, Harry Connick Jr., and the…

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Alzheimer’s Association Jam Session

By Anastasia Wheeler, MT-BC This last month I had the opportunity to stop by the Alzheimer’s Association Jam Session, and I am TOTALLY going again. I arrived with my fiddle and mandolin in hand and met a group of fantastic, joyful, and talented musicians who welcomed me into their group. These folks lead all of…

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Book Review: "Music, Memory, and Meaning"

Music, Memory and Meaning book cover

You’re going to want to check out this great new reference book from our music therapist colleagues Meredith Hamons, Tara Jenkins, and Cathy Befi-Hensel, especially if you are caring for older adults in your family or as an eldercare professional. Click here to get your own copy (affiliate link). What did you think? Let us…

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Musical Time-Saving Tip for Caregivers of People with Dementia

You’ve experienced this before. You care for someone with dementia, and you need them to get up and move somewhere. They need to get out of bed to go eat breakfast, or they need to go out to the car to get to a doctor’s appointment. But the dementia is taking away that person’s ability…

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Benefits of Music on Move-In Day: Intangible, But Very Real

Older Asian Man Sitting By Daughter

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…

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Book 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…

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Stay for a Little While: A Song Celebrating Young Caregivers

Stay For A Little While | soundscapingsource.com

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…

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4 Times To Use Music To Support ADLs

Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease or a related dementia is this: When the person with dementia starts needing help with their activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs are the basic tasks like dressing, bathing, eating, and walking that healthy adults can accomplish with little thought. For…

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Where Words Fail, Music Speaks

Music Speaks | soundscapingsource.com

Many years ago now, I was an undergraduate studying music therapy, and my roommates and I decided it would be a great idea to write out famous quotations on construction paper and attach them to a wall – for an inexpensive, inspirational decoration, you know? Of all the quotations that I read and re-read while…

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