For Caregivers
5 Fun Ways to Use Music During Quarantine
The effects of COVID-19 have forced the world to remain home for several weeks now, and many of us are running out of ideas on how to stay entertained, inspired, and connected. Of course, music can be one answer to any of those needs. Here are 5 ways you can put some music into your…
Read MoreSocial Isolation: How Music Therapy Helps
As we age, it’s very common for us to become more isolated. When we’re healthy, we can get out to the coffee shop for the drink, or church for a weekly service, or the rec center to exercise with friends. These opportunities can become fewer and fewer when our bodies do not have as much…
Read More20-Second Handwashing Songs for Seniors
COVID-19 is on the rise, and we need all the help we can get to make sure that coronavirus doesn’t spread. The CDC recommends at least 20 seconds of vigorous handwashing with soap and warm water to prevent the spread of germs. Why not make it fun? Here are 10 choruses from 1940-1970 to help…
Read MoreInfection Control Procedures and COVID-19
Hello, With the recent news about COVID-19 diagnoses in Johnson County and St. Louis, I am writing to reassure you that the Soundscaping Source team is following these developments closely. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of the older adults we serve, and we are putting extra attention into the infection control…
Read MoreSongs for Labor Day
Labor Day provides the perfect opportunity to ask seniors about their work experiences. Use the playlist below to inspire discussions about work, as well as the joys of the retirement years. Which songs are your favorites?
Read MoreBook Review: "Music, Memory, and Meaning"
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…
Read MoreLessons Learned From A Sprained Ankle
Earlier this week, I was picking up some children’s Tylenol from CVS for my feverish first grader. Her little sister (age 3) was unhappy that I wouldn’t let her buy candy, too, which necessitated me carrying her out of the store. A distracted, crying preschooler in arms, I stepped off the curb wrong and ended…
Read More3 Questions You’ll Have After Your Parent With Alzheimer’s Becomes a Widow
When your parent has Alzheimer’s disease, you can’t help but worry about their well-being. However, when a loving spouse is acting as caregiver, you can at least take comfort in the fact that they’re cared for in everyday life. But what happens when that husband or wife dies? Dealing with a parent’s death is never…
Read MoreMusical 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…
Read MoreBenefits 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…
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