Interesting article. Also read the three responses (at end) written by music therapist interns. Go to: http://www.voices.no/mainissues/Voices2%283%29abad.html
Good article, rachelle. My DH enjoys country music, especially bluegrass He keeps a radio tuned to that kind of station and I often hear him say (to the radio) "good job" or "that was a good song" (smile)
My husband, when in stage 5 and 6, would put it my video tapes of the musicals: The Sound of Music, The King and I, Oklahoma, etc. and watch them! It floored me, because other than The Sound of Music, he hadn't ever LIKED musicals....I guess the music did bring him pleasure during that stage...
My husband is late stage 7 and interacts very little with anyone or anything but music (older county and old rock and roll) will calm him when nothing else will. One of the other residents at the nursing home comes to my husband's door and sits and listens to the music too. I have to pretend that I don't see him there or he will leave even though I have often told him that it is ok to listen and have invited him into the room but he will not come in.
Reading that article (and the responses) made me realize that asking if a NH has a music therapy program would be good to add to list of questions when checking places out. I know that sometimes there is little choice (depending on location and/or finances) but for people with AD, the presence of a regular music program could be very helpful. Interesting that the therapist scheduled sessions later afternoon to help ease the sundowning effects.
Also good info in article to apply at home. I know my hubby really likes listening to certain types of music especially in later part of day and evening. Seems to calm and sooth him. Whatever helps is a good thing.
This sentence stood out from this excellent article: "Behavioural disturbance is a critical and understudied aspect of Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's Disease is not just a disease of the memory. It is a disease characterised by significant and devastating behavioural impairments" (Teri, Rabins, Whitehorse, Berg, Reisberg, Sunderland, Eichelman & Phelps, 1992, p.86)." Many of us have had this experience, but I find it is good to been reminded.
While during the mid stages my DH also enjoyed listening to a portable CD disc and his fav music discs. but even that became non stimulatiing later in the game. when he became more impaired i got a childrens CD player in bright colors that had earphones and played lively chidrens songs that he couldnt take apart and handle batteries:). he still will listen to it and seems to enjoy the tunes. as they progress we know they tend to revert back to childlike tendencies and likes. i think it was briegull that also found her DH in late stage is also loving childrens tunes and songs. its sad they revert to this infantile stage but we do what we can that can give them a bit of pleasure and happiness until the end.
Yes divvi. He still goes silent when I start to sing. He still goes into his "disruptive vocalizations" but it's almost by rote. If I sing or Andrews dog is visiting he'll hush right up.
Dh's day care has a music therapist on Friday afternoons. At a family program this afternoon we were given a demonstration of what they do and why. I asked the therapist afterwards if dh takes part and she said he did for a while but hasn't been in the group because he usually goes to sit in a different room where he likes one of the aides. She promised to try to get him to join the group, because I think it is really good for him.