I haven't been on this website for a long time! Steve is doing pretty well these days. Someone told me about a study showing that music therapy is beneficial to people with AD. He always liked to whistle and sing while he was working, so I downloaded onto my laptop some of his favorite musicals (Fiddler on the Roof, Phantom of the Opera), singers (Barry Mannilow, Neil Diamond), some nice classical music and he happily sits and listens and whistles along. This will keep him occupied for as long as the music is playing.
The staff at Charlie's nursing home has discovered that if he is restless and having trouble sleeping, put on a CD. It usually calms him down and helps his sleep. This was his way of relaxing after a hard days work in his younger days. And I imagine having dementia is hard work. Must be very hard being so confused.
My hb still plays the piano and sings. He's in a Circle of Art group of 7 men w/dementia who sing, paint, draw and play physical games. He's happier there than anyplace, I think. They all laugh and talk--don't know that they all understand each other all the time, but....it don't matter.
We moved to Eureka Springs, AR mostly for the available of live music within walking distance. DH has had a wonderfl time for the most part in the 3 years we've lived here. This weekend is the Bluegrass Festival so we'll be hearing all types of bluegrass for a few days. We even went to a couple operas this summer and he was enchanted.
DH used to love jazz and he also enjoyed the classical music that I love. A year ago he would still sit and watch performances on TV or DVD. Now he seems completely uninterested in either one and will walk away from the TV if I have the classical music station on.
Try to remember all the lullabies and songs you used to sing to your kids, or were sung to you. -Hush little baby, don't you cry -Jimmy crack corn -over the rainbow froggie went a'courting I know a lady who swallowed a fly Old Macdonald etc etc etc
My husband just loves to hear me singing. He's the only one who ever has!! other than the kids when they were little. It will hush him right up!! Sing when you have to do hands-on for one thing or another.
My babies did not want me to sing to them. I have always love to sing but I only do it when I am in the car by myself. I remember when I was about 9 singing in church and one of the older girls tapped me on the shoulder and ask me not to sing so loud that I was off key.