Alzheimer's Disease and Music

“The wife of a man with severe dementia said, 'When I was encouraged by a music therapist to sing to my husband who had been lost in the fog of Alzheimer’s disease for so many years, he looked at me and seemed to recognize me. On the last day of his life, he opened his eyes and looked into mine when I sang his favorite hymn. I’ll always treasure that last moment we shared together. Music therapy gave me that memory, the gift I will never forget."   *

Dr. Oliver Sacks, at the Hearing before the Senate Special Committee on Aging entitled, “Forever Young: Music and Aging,” stated: “The power of music is very remarkable... One sees Parkinsonian patients unable to walk, but able to dance perfectly well or patients almost unable to talk, who are able to sing perfectly well... I think that music therapy and music therapists are crucial and indispensable in institutions for elderly people and among neurologically disabled patients.”  *

A gentleman in the early stages of progressive dementia improvised on a xylophone during a music therapy session to express his feelings, and then stated: “I don’t know how anyone can live without music.”  *

A frail 93 year old woman, referred for music therapy after being diagnosed with major depression, said: “Now, there is no need to be morose. I can have my music here with me and listen to it whenever I want to feel young.”  *

"When a couple danced together for the first time after five years of the husband’s deterioration from probable Alzheimer’s disease, the wife said: “Thank you for helping us dance. It’s the first time in three years that my husband held me in his arms.” Tearfully, she said that she had missed him just holding her and that music therapy had made that possible.”  *

                                                    * Published by "American Music Therapy Association"

"...[W]e lose sight of how powerful melody and rhythm can be in the realm of medicine, particularly with respect to Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers... nursing homes and hospitals are finding that working with a music therapist can make a big difference..."
                                                   Published by - C. Gorman. Time, November 14, 2005
 

Has Alzheimer’s disease entered your life? Perhaps a friend, family member or loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease? You’ve heard or read that Alzheimer’s disease has no cure and the fear of what may happen as the disease progresses has you concerned?

The truth is that doctors currently have no magic pill or treatment that will cure the disease. Rather your goal must be to improve the quality of life of the Alzheimer patient.

The medical community has known for years that the Alzheimer patient tends to lose their short term memory quicker than their long term memory. It is also a fact that music causes a powerful response in Alzheimer’s patients and the elderly in general. Sometimes they exhibit almost miraculous responses and begin singing when they haven’t spoken for days or weeks. Often, they talk to the family around them after the music starts and begin reminiscing with their friends or loved ones.

How does music work in the mind and body of the Alzheimer’s patient?

According to Dr. Joel Elkes, noted psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist, when a person is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, it is as though all of the “doors” to memories and information in the brain are slowly closing. In reality, the dendrites in the neural network of the brain are being increasingly coated with a substance akin to the plaque that forms on your teeth. The neural connections eventually can’t connect!

For reasons unknown to neuroscientists, the “door” to music and the ability to recognize, remember, and enjoy music, remain until the very end. It’s quite miraculous, I think,  and makes music such an easy and logical intervention. As I’ve said before, music will not cure or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease but is a “quality of life” intervention that can bring much joy, pleasure and satisfaction to the patient as well as the family.

While I worked with Dr. Elkes at the medical school of the University of Louisville, I did clinical research on the “Therapeutic Use of Music with Alzheimer’s Disease” and the data showed conclusively that when patients listen to the music of their “courting years” their mood brightens, they become less combative, they are more sociable, and they eat better and sleep better.

The introduction of music from the Alzheimer patient’s past is an important part of the quality of life equation.

The “music of the courting years” is an important link in the patient’s tendency to retain long term memory while experiencing a decline in short term or recent memory.

Of course, everyone’s courting years are unique. For Grandma, it may be the Big Band music or the music of World War II. It could be the music of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley.   It might be classical music if your loved one grew up in a family that studied classical music and took lessons. When we go out and perform for senior citizens, we get requests for all kinds of music and try to have a wide variety available.

Currently the “courting years” on my playlist consists of music from the 1920’s through the early 1950’s. Our requested music might be “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby”, “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” or “Moonlight Bay.”

We have pulled together an informative package to help you understand what is happening in the life of the Alzheimer’s patient.

We sat down at a beautiful Steinway Grand Piano and recorded the 23 most commonly requested songs as we have entertained the elderly. The beautiful sound of a great piano comes through in these simple piano solos. The recordings allow the listener to revisit their past, generate discussions between listeners, or sing along. The recordings are music only as to engage the listener’s mind and have them bring up the words or lyrics they remember.

If the memory just needs a little jogging or perhaps you are singing along with a patient and the song is “before your time,” we provide the lyrics separately. It would be better for the patient to teach you the lyrics. If you are using the music in a group setting, you may want to print copies and have a sing-a-long.

Now we have put this same music on our cordless, battery-powered headphones so that patients can listen as much as they want while resting comfortably or walking around, as many patients like to do. We are using a headphone and not “earbuds” because

• They have a better ability to muffle outside noises
• They do not “fall out”
• Headphones “concentrate” the music experience
• Headphones don’t interrupt the surrounding people.
  
   

Hello, my name is Dr. Alice Cash (but you can call me Alice ;-) For over 20 years, I've been helping people...  I'm pretty sure I can help YOU, too! I've devoted my life to using the natural qualities of music to help everyone from surgery candidates to Alzheimer's patients, and even help babies bond with their mothers! I've given lectures and workshops about the healing benefits of music around the world, written articles in prestigious medical journals, have appeared in some of the  TOP newspapers  ... I've even been interviewed on the "Today" show! Dr. Alice Cash, Ph.D. Now, I'm not telling you this to boast! I just think it's important that, when it comes to your health, you make sure you're getting advice from someone who you can truly TRUST. As a licensed clinician and social worker, I interact with Alzheimer patients one-on-one to help them gain an improved lifestyle. I would be happy to schedule a discussion with you or your Alzheimer patient.  As everyone is traveling through life on different roads, it is nice to have a personal conversation to discuss the situation you are encountering.

Here is what you will receive:

1. Our 23-song Music for Memory Care. $19.97
   
    

   Music for Memory Care: Music for Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients
   Memory Lane Bye Bye Blackbird Tip-Toe Through the Tulips There's a Long Long Trail Shanty Town Till We Meet Again When Day is Done You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby Jeepers Creepers In the Good Old Summer Time By the Light of the Silvery Moon	Just a Song at Twilight Hello My Baby In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree In My Merry Oldsmobile I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen Tea for Two Pretty Baby By the Sea My Buddy School Days Moonlight Bay If You Were the Only Girl in the World

    

2. The Lyrics for the 23 songs

   Remember, if the patient can teach you the lyrics, it will create a positive experience for them.  We provide the lyrics separately in case you need them.

   
   
   
    

3.  The Wireless Headphones $147.97
   
   The headphones allows the patient to hear familiar music while they pace and/or walk about move about their living quarters.
   
    

   "Look! Your Music is Ready to Use!"    Your music will arrive on high-quality, self-    contained, wireless headphones that are    already loaded. No downloading music files. No trying to load your MP3 player No hassle of ear buds that may fall out. No wires or cords to get in the doctor's way.  Our Headphones are "Ready to Listen!" Just unpack, charge the batteries and you are ready to listen! Your headphones technical information: MP3 Player: Your headphones will be pre-loaded with your music so no "programming" will be needed. Connects to your computer through its USB port. 2 GB Built-in Flash Memory to allow room for high quality music 5 Preset Equalizer Modes to allow selecting a different music range if you react to certain tone levels.  (Most listeners will not use this feature.) Built-in Rechargeable Battery can be charged using A/C charger (included) or computer's USB port Battery Play-time is Between 7 to 8 Hours After Full Charge Your headphones will include: USB Data/Power Cord to connect your headphones to your computer Instruction Manual UNIVERSAL AC CHARGER (110v-220v) to be used when charging through your computer's USB port is not available.

    
    

4. The Personal Consultation with Dr. Alice Cash   $95.00
   
   This individual 0ne-to-one consultation can be used to discuss your situation, provide encouragement, or plan future steps to improve the patients' quality of life.  We can contact each other by telephone, Skype or if you are in the Louisville, KY area, we can meet at our office.

   “We have been seeing Dr. Alice Cash, a clinical musicologist, in an effort to do 2 things:
         a. Explore how music might enhance JoAnn’s quality of life and reinforce memory
         b. Get her help in a program to reduce or eliminate JoAnn’s sleep apnea and snoring.

   We found Dr. Cash to be very personable and focused on issues faced by people with Alzheimer’s. She was highly recommended by two friends, one of whom was Carlene Daley, our facilitator at the Alzheimer’s Assoc where we all met.
   
   JoAnn now joins in whenever I’m singing or whistling an old tune we grew up with and likes to bang on a couple of drums we bought at the urging of Dr. Cash. We’re working on the second goal, but this is a long term effort that will take months before we can assess its effectiveness.”

The total for the 4 items would be $267.89

Our Special Price is $149.00     That’s a Savings of $118.89

 

Added December 20, 2012

"The  feedback we have received since publishing this this package has been wonderful.  We are blessed with the positive comments. We have decided to add additional items that will raise your awareness of how music interacts with your mind and body. They will increase your knowledge and your ability to deal with Alzheimer's Disease and the early forms of dementia that we encounter with old age. You will receive a link so you may download them within minutes and begin the learning process today!"  Alice

5. Notes for Tuning Your Life With Music   $19.97

   This easy to understand ebook will help you learn to use music to improve your health, frame of mind and well-being. People of all ages will enjoy this introduction to the amazing properties of music for healthy bodies, minds, hearts and spirits.

   Book Table of Contents

   An Introduction to Healing with Music Music Healing: A Brief Overview Choosing Music you like the Best - Selected Musical Categories Characteristics of Healing Music Music through the Life Span Music for Pregnancy and Childbirth The Importance of Lullabies Toddlers and Early Childhood Kindergarten and Early Elementary (age 5-7) Late Elementary School (age 8-10) Teenagers and Young Adults Music for Life's Special Occasions: Graduations, Weddings, Holy Unions Music in Middle Age and Life Transitions Music for the Well Elderly Music for Specific Health Challenges Music for Surgery

   Music and Pain Management Fibromyalgia Arthritis Migraine Back Pain Cancer Treatment Music with Anxiety and Panic Disorders Depression Alcohol and Drugs Music with the Dementia or Alzheimer's Patient Toning, Chanting and Drumming: Ancient Tools for Modern Times Toning Chanting Drumming Music for Spiritual Development Music and Spirituality SOUND HEALING: A BIBLIOGRAPHY

   
    

6. “The Sampler”   19.97
   
   This is an overview of the music that we use most in working with new Moms and babies, Alzheimer’s patients, and relating to improving one’s life with music. It is a combination of an introduction to the different types of music from the soothing lullaby, the memory care area, and finishing with how toning or chanting might be used.  We offer examples of the different musical areas.
    

That will bring the package to 6 items with a $300 value .

I will hold your cost to $149 increasing your savings to 51%
 

Add  to Cart

Music is a proven benefit to persons diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.  Try out the music, the headphones and book, have your consultation with Dr. Cash and listen to all of the programs for 10 days.  If you don't find that this will benefit your loved one for months to come, we will refund your money upon the return of all items.

With the 12/20/2012 additions: