Two RTC contracted California care centers are taking part in a grant match program with the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, and Music & Memory.
Personalized iPod playlists are at the center of a new form of therapy in rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, and dementia care centers. Dan Cohen, founder of Music and Memory opened the door to this remarkable innovation.
The staff and volunteers build a playlist of each person’s 100 most favorite songs. If a resident is too ill to speak, family and friends provide information regarding what each person used to listen to. Once a playlist is fine-tuned, improvements can usually be seen immediately. Persons with Alzheimer’s disease who haven’t spoken in months sing and wave their arms in the air in time with the music.
“It’s a simple approach that has very high impact.”
By Michele Nolta
Photo from http://www.musicandmemory.org/