By Joan Gerberding Sep 5, 2024
Isn’t it funny how we can’t remember what we had for dinner last night, but we can sing, word for word, the lyrics and melodies of the songs of our youth? Music can be a potent way to stimulate both feelings and memories from all stages of our lives. Even more powerful than the memories evoked from a scent or the taste of food, music has the ability to transport us instantly to other places and times, helping people with dementia reconnect with their past.
According to Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. in a 2021 “Psychology Today” article, “The relationship between music and memory is powerful. Music evokes powerful emotions that then bring back memories. When we listen to a piece of music from years ago, we seem to travel back to that moment. We can feel everything as if we were there.”
And because music is such a potent tool these dayswhen it comes to memory care, music of all eras and genresis being used as a way to help seniors with dementiareconnect with their preciousmemories. And it’s working! For Kelly Willenborg of Marco Island, FL,and Effingham, IL., the science of bringing memories to the forefront through music has become one of her manyphilanthropic passions.
As a Brain Health Gerontologist, Music Interventionist, and Philanthropist for Neuro Programs, Kelly invests her time in several cognitive health programs.In 2016, she even launched her own non-profit foundation - MyMemoryWorx - to help people both on Marco Island, where she lives six months a year,and in her home state of Illinois.
“Music can trigger a deeply nostalgic and profoundly emotional experience,” commented Kelly. “People with dementia struggle to recall memories from long ago, so when they hear the music of their youth, the brain triggers vivid, long forgotten recollections.”
Kelly first connected with the creator of the Alive Inside Foundation several years ago. “Michael Rossato-Bennett is the founder and Executive Director of the foundation. He was writing and directing a film about music and its effects on dementia patients, called “Alive Inside.” I saw a clip of the film and I was hooked.”Not only did Kelly invest in the project, but she also became invested in the idea that music had the capacity to reawaken the souls of people with dementia. So, Kelly went on to purchase hundreds of Alive Inside music headsets to donate to individual seniors, assisted living, nursing homes,and memory care and Alzheimer’s resource organizations.
“By connecting the young and old through music and empathy,”added Rossato-Bennett, “we can begin to transform their lives and rediscover our innate capacity to perceive and pursue beauty.”
The all-in-one Bluetooth®/MP3 Music Player/WAV Music Play headset provides a high-quality music listening experience with no wires to untangle or batteries to replace. The headsets come with a charging cable, a headphone cable, and an optional built-in micro SD card and card reader.
According to a recent 2023 article published in “Psychology Today,”written by Dr. Kelly Jakubowski, an Assistant Professor in Music Psychology, along with several other colleagues at Durham University in the United Kingdom, “Many people intuitively believe music is a powerful cue for autobiographical memories…Music is increasingly used as a tool for helping people with dementia to reconnect with their past. Favorite songs can also serve as a meaningful way to structure discussions about one’s life story.”
So, how does it work? To answer that question, we reached out to the Dubin Centerlocated in Ft. Myers, FL. As a free resource center forfamily caregivers and those living with a dementia related disease, the Dubin Center has had a great deal of success using these all-in-one AliveInside music memory headsets.
“Our clients absolutely love the headsets,” said ShannonMessner, a Licensed Clinical Social Workerwho works with seniors living with all stages of dementia orcognitive impairment. “Some caregivers say that the person they’re caring for enjoys the headset so much that they don’t want to take it off.”
A few caregivers have shared that the headsets have made a positive impact on their loved ones, especially during sundowning times of the day. Others use them to provide comfort to their person while waiting for a doctor’s appointment or when they’re in the hospital.”
One dementia caregiver declared: “My heart is full thanks to AliveInside and Kelly Willenborg. The woman I care for was singing, smiling, and laughing with her headset music. I have not seen those emotions from her in years. She literally came “alive inside” last night and I got to experience it with her. SO VERY BLESSED. Thank you.”
Each SD card contains 90 to 100 pieces of music chosen by either the caregiver or their family members or loved ones. Each music program is designed for optimal use by caregivers dealing with seniorsin all stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s, allowing them to unlock memories and promotecommunication.
It's easy to start the AliveInside program. Just log-on to: https://www.mymemoryworx.org/music-awakening-at-home and complete the easy online music preference form based on your loved one’s favorite music, then hit SUBMIT. The form goes directly to Kelly, who then downloads all the music and sends the loaded headset—FREE OF CHARGE—back within 72 hours. There is no charge for the headset (a $38.00 value), no shipping charges, and no charge for the music. AliveInside is 100% free.
Limited quantities are available, so this offer is good only while supplies last. Any one individual or any organization interested in learning more about the AliveInside headsets and Music Awakening program, can email Kelly at kelly@aliveinside.org or text the words Memory Player Request to 217-254-2149. No phone calls please.
“No matter what our age. No matter what health issues we battle,” continued Kelly, “We are still all Alive Inside.”
