I had a wonderful visit w/ my Mom this past week

[MissMillie]

She's in the dementia ward at a local long-term care facility.

She doesn't remember me.

But at this visit she was up and showered and dressed and sitting in the community room. (She often refuses to get dressed in the morning.) She was waiting her turn for the hair dresser, as were several other residents.

The nurse's aide came in and said she would put the TV on, but that she didn't know how. She added that she'd sing for everyone, but she thought they wouldn't like that.

So I started singing.

Let Me Call You Sweetheart
I Love You a Bushel and a Peck
(You've Got the Cutest Little) Baby Face
You Are My Sunshine

Despite being in a unit where people don't have much of a memory anymore, a lot of the residents knew the words and sang along.

I'm going to dig out my ukulele and learn a bunch of songs. It was just so much fun, that I want to do it again.

[3Hotdogs]

1. That is a valuable use of your time

Songs from their era are well received in dementia facilities.

[luvs2sing]

2. Music reaches through, somehow.

I once spent a day Christmas caroling at a number of long-term and memory facilities in my city. The things I experienced that day, and the people who were “non responsive” who became responsive to sing and say “Merry Christmas” are gifts I will treasure for the rest of my life. One woman held a baby doll and, as we sang, she handed me her “child” and I sang to her as if she were my own. Just a beautiful, beautiful day.

[babylonsister]

3. My dad died in June at the age of 91.

For his entire life he loved music and more as he got older and lost his eyesight from macular degeneration. The music enriched his days and nights. I'm so happy to read music made that connection for you!

[Ohiogal]

4. My sister-in-law

plays the piano beautifully, and for many years volunteered her time playing old songs for the residents of nursing homes. She brought them so much joy, you could just see it on their faces.

[NNadir]

5. You are simply a beautiful person. Thanks for being you. n/t.

[NurseJackie]

6. That's wonderful!

I'm going to dig out my ukulele and learn a bunch of songs. It was just so much fun, that I want to do it again.

That's wonderful! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing that.

[Trueblue Texan]

7. Yayyyyy!

This is great! Music is truly the universal language! One of the most moving experiences I’ve ever had was when I was visiting a memory care unit and turned on Tony Bennet’s “Stranger in Paradise.” Oh! Their faces were so beautiful, so suddenly alive and filled with recognition of reality! It was one of the most beautiful, moving things I’ve ever seen and brought me to tears unexpectedly. So keep singing! You never realize what parts of their hearts you may be touching. Life is fleeting and so is cognition, but it can be beautiful, so beautiful!