Pat Summit Was One of Many

“Have you ever walked along a shoreline, only to have your footprints washed away? That’s what Alzheimer’s is like. The waves erase the marks we leave behind, all the sand castles.” (Pat Summit)

Dementia is an awful disease. Alzheimer’s is just one type of dementia, although it accounts for 60% of all cases. No ifs, ands or buts about it. It is awful for a family member who has to watch a loved one succumb to the disease. And it is awful for the person developing dementia, because in the earlier stages, he or she understands what is coming.

6,500 Citrus County Residents Have Dementia

We have approximately 6,500 citizens in Citrus County who are living with dementia. Roughly 60% of dementia cases are due to Alzheimer’s disease.  I encounter it everywhere I play – in both of our hospitals, in skilled nursing facilities, in hospices and of course, in memory care facilities.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s or other dementias yet. Research is ongoing. Researchers are beginning to suspect what happens as the brain succumbs to Alzheimer’s.  Deposits of plaque form between neurons, which leads to protein tangles. These disrupt nerve transmission, and eventually trigger nerve death.

 Music of Past Loves Awakes Dementia Folks

For someone living with dementia, being lost in a mental fog is common. For such a person, playing bright, cheerful music that the person might remember is the ticket. Music that was popular when one was about twenty is best. At age twenty we are at the height of our vibrant living – probably about that time, falling in love. These songs bring up powerful emotions that will enliven the brain, and the person it’s attached to.

But sometimes the fog of confusion leads to more aggressive behaviors. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who is confused. You’ve undoubtedly been there at some point in time, hopefully temporarily. The confusion can lead to frustration. Frustration leads to anger and anxiety. These generate combative behavior.

What Type of Music?

So when I play for a person facing dementia, I don’t assume that I am going to be playing cheerful memory music.

I may need to reach into my bag of tricks and play music that alleviates stress and anxiety.

A Story:

But I truly love it when I can awaken the brain and bring the person back to awareness. I ran into one fairly young lady who was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. She was in a wheelchair, hunched over and to all outward appearances, asleep. I started to play a song that was popular when she was about twenty. I couldn’t have been into the song for more than twenty seconds when she suddenly sat bolt upright.

Her eyes were blazing. She looked at me, but I don’t think she could focus. But she certainly could hear. She stayed upright in the wheelchair and started tapping her foot ever so slightly. As I recall, there was a slight smile on her lips. I played for her until her caregiver arrived.

Sunsets Are Not Always Rosy

It’s hard to say exactly how long the effect of our music lasts. Several hours at least, unless there is a negative intervening event. Because of the lingering impact of the music, it is quite effective in reducing or eliminating a condition called “Sundowners.”

Sundowners occurs in the late afternoon or early evening. This is when the person living with dementia often gets very agitated and angry. A good session of therapeutic music in the later afternoon hours tends to keep the person calm and relaxed. So, long after I’m home, fixing dinner, I can rest assured that someone is still benefitting from my efforts that day. I love it.

You Can Help

We raise money to pay for scholarships to train more locals to play therapeutic music. We always need more money to achieve our goals. And as we gather more money, we also need more musicians who want to enter into this program. Please donate. Please consider joining us if you have any musical talent. Or if you know anyone who might be interested, Contact us.