For Music Therapists
Two Thomas Dorseys
I have to start this post with a confession. A while ago, I had a music therapy client request the song “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.” I had known the song for a while, but when I looked up the lyrics this time around, I noticed that the composer listed was Thomas Dorsey. “Huh,” I…
Read More5 Upbeat Songs To Inspire Dancing For Older Adults
Cultural Competence: African American Older Adults
Cultural Humility vs. Cultural Competence
I’ve written several posts now about connecting as caregivers with older adults who are from different cultural backgrounds than our own. This is a big task, and as I wrote before, we must take one bite at a time. As I was researching this topic, I came across a term that describes something just as…
Read MoreYou Can’t Cheat Death
As the old saying goes, only two things in life are certain: death and taxes. Today is Tax Day in the U.S., so, well, there you go. As for death, though, one North Carolina hospital is telling its potential customers that they can “cheat death.” Besides the inevitable billboards and flyers that go along with…
Read MoreCultural Competence: Vietnamese Older Adults
We’ve been talking about cultural competence here recently. Let’s turn our attention to another rapidly growing ethnic group: Asian Americans. As with Latino Americans, Asian Americans are not a homogenous group. It’s important to know about your clients’ nationalities, how long their families have been in the U.S., why they immigrated here, and how assimilated they are into American…
Read MoreCultural Competence: Latino Older Adults
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, The United States is projected to be a majority-minority nation by 2043. By 2060, nearly 1 in 3 Americans will be Hispanic, up from 1 in 6 Americans now. The Latino older adult population is expected to grow 3.9% each year from now until 2050, with Latinos comprising nearly…
Read MoreTop 10 Funny Songs for Seniors
How Do You Eat An Elephant?
17 Fascinating Facts About Irish Music
In preparation for St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, here are 17 fun facts about Irish music: 1. The Irish value their music so much that an Irish harp is pictured on their euro coins. 2. In Irish stepdance, dancers keep their upper bodies stiff while doing intricate footwork. 3. Step dancers wear two kinds…
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