Thanks for the Memories:
Entertaining in Memory Units Can Be Rewarding….and Challenging
By Carla Gordon
MIRACLES HAPPEN
Every time I sing in a memory unit a miracle happens.
A few months ago, I was singing with my band Three for the Road and Friends in the memory unit of The Carrington, a senior community just outside Chicago. As usual, the more engaged residents sit up front, smile, and sing along to “Those Were the Days” and “Love Potion Number Nine.” However, three rows back a still-handsome silver-haired woman was rocking furiously with her comfort doll. She appeared unaware that entertainment was happening. “Shine on Harvest Moon” was our next number, and I had the lead vocal. I started the chorus and noticed her singing along with “up in the sky.” She was smiling and looking at me. She kept singing for the rest of the hour.
That same day at that same gig, a woman in a wheelchair became agitated and started screaming. Admonitions from staff members were not effective. Then a particularly insightful attendant went up to the woman, took her hand and started “dancing” with her while the woman remained in the chair who started to sway and move to the music in response to the attendant’s kindness.
Two miracles in one gig—not bad.
I was singing St. Patrick’s Day songs at Trulee in Evanston while Andy Bossov, my talented partner in the Chicago Duo, was at the piano and harmonizing with me. A quite elderly gentleman in a high-backed wheelchair was clearly disengaged. Then we began to sing “An Irish Lullabye,” and the gentleman sprang to life and sang the “Tooralooraloora” part loud and clear. When the song ended, I approached the man and asked permission to shake his hand. Grinning, he reached out with a firm grip. Another miracle occurred.
Jessica Natale is Director of Community Engagement at Trulee, a senior community in Evanston. Trulee provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Ms. Natale often books entertainers to perform at the memory unit. That’s followed by a show for the independent-living residents that puts the “Happy” in “Happy Hour.” When asked what an activities director looks for in memory-unit entertainment, Jessica replied. “In Memory Care, entertainment is about more than just keeping residents busy—it’s about creating meaningful moments. Live music, especially with songs they remember, has this amazing way of bringing them to life. You can see it in their faces when a familiar tune starts playing—the smiles, the clapping and toe-tapping, even singing along. It’s pure joy, and it reminds us how powerful music is in keeping memories alive.”
SONGS BY HEART
Since its first programs in 2015, Songs by Heart currently serves more than 40 memory-loss communities across the country. Its mission statement explains, “According to studies done in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, when used appropriately, music can shift mood, manage stress-induced agitation, stimulate positive interactions, facilitate cognitive function, and coordinate motor movements. With this knowledge, we have been able to create a program that uses music to engage residents at a higher level than a standard sing-along.”
Founder Nancy Gustafson observed that her mother, who suffered from advanced dementia, would emerge from her non-communicative state when Christmas carols were played. “It was at that moment that I knew what I had to do. I didn’t want another day to pass where my mother and others like her sat in their rooms disconnected from the world around them, looking so terribly lost, depressed, and frightened. Music has the power to help people with memory loss to connect to each other, to the world around them, and to the joy of music. I would create a program that harnesses that power and aims to improve the lives of people like my mother, every day.”
Songs by Heart presents engagement-centered programs in which a professional singer leads an interactive sing-along with live piano accompaniment. The singers use techniques such as mirroring, verbal and gestural prompting, making direct eye contact, and holding hands with residents throughout the program. Their presenters are lively and energetic.
The Chicago Cabaret Professionals recently named Songs by Heart as the charitable recipient of its Merry Measures Holiday Cabaret proceeds and is exploring joint projects with the organization. Emily Becker, Director of Operations for Songs by Heart, added these words of advice for memory-unit entertainers: “Give them opportunities to succeed; they might surprise you!” For instance, “Does anyone know what movie “Moon River” is from? (pause) It starred Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly. (pause) Breakfast at (pause)?” Pauses will allow them to fill in the answers, so try to give them the time and space to do so. Remembering that dementia patients’ brains often take longer to process things but also have the answer ready in case no one speaks up!”
WHY SING IN MEMORY UNITS?
Singing uses all parts of the brain at once. Singing works certain parts of the brain that don’t get exercised by many other activities. A person suffering from dementia can actually rebuild neural pathways by singing.
HOW SINGING IN MEMORY UNITS IS HELPFUL
Singing is a common activity in memory-care units that can help people with memory conditions in a many ways, including:
- Socializing: Singing can be a fun way for people to socialize and express themselves in a supportive group.
- Memory: Singing can build on preserved memories of music and songs. Music can access parts of the brain that dementia can’t affect.
- Well being: Singing can help reduce anxiety, increase relaxation and happiness, and provide a sense of identity.
- Engagement: Music can enhance engagement with family and friends.
- Medication: Music can reduce reliance on anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety medications.
Here are some other music techniques that can be used in memory care units:
- Playing familiar music
- Encouraging residents to play instruments to the beat
- Encouraging caregivers to sing, dance, or make music with the residents
From a physiological standpoint, music can also increase the heart rate and hormone levels in cognitively impaired patients.
MUSCLE MEMORY
If you are a singer, you know that if you sing something over and over again your brain will remember the song by building up your “muscle memory.” This process is also effective for dementia patients and is a reason why repeating choruses of songs increases participation in sing-alongs.
PATTER IN MEMORY UNITS
Patter in memory units is different from patter in typical entertainment venues. It’s all about our listeners. It’s all about THEM! It’s fine to say, “My mom taught me this song,” or “I learned this song from my favorite teacher, Mrs. Watson,” but they don’t want to hear about the singer’s last breakup.
CHOOSING SONGS TO SING IN MEMORY UNITS
When choosing songs to sing in a memory unit, choose familiar music. Encourage seniors to shake or tap musical instruments to the beat. Instruments can include plastic hand clappers, rhythm sticks, egg shakers, maracas, jingle bells, spoons, or other percussion instruments.
- Use a drum or other rhythm makers to create a firm beat. This provides a strong sound foundation and helps seniors follow the beat or create their own rhythm.
- Interact with the music. Respectfully encourage attendees to sing, dance, or make music with the entertainers.
Consider the age cohort. 70-somethings will appreciate Elvis and the Beach Boys while 90-somethings may feel more connected to “Bicycle Built for Two.” Your participants may be better able to sing along with the choruses than with the entire song.
ONE AT A TIME, PLEASE
A memory unit is not the right place for song pairings and medleys. If the point is to encourage dementia patients (and seniors in general) to sing along, changing songs mid-stream can be jarring and make participants disconnect.
PLAY-LIST EXAMPLES
Some songs that have been successfully presented in memory units include the following:
“Ain’t She Sweet”
“America the Beautiful”
“Anniversary Waltz”
“Bicycle Built for Two”
“Blue Skies”
“Blue Suede Shoes”
“Do Re Mi”
“Edelweiss”
“God Bless America”
“Hail Hail, The Gang’s All Here”
“Hey, Good Lookin’”
“Home on the Range”
“Hound Dog”
“I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”
“Moon River”
“Moonlight Bay”
“My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”
“My Darling Clementine”
“New York, New York”
“Over the Rainbow”
“Que Sera, Sera”
“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
“She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain”
“Shine on Harvest Moon”
“Singing in the Rain”
“Sixteen Tons”
“Those Were the Days”
“The Twist”
“What a Wonderful World”
“Yankee Doodle Dandy”
“You Are My Sunshine”
“You Make Me Feel So Young”
“You’re a Grand Old Flag”
BE READY FOR ANYTHING
Dementia patients may be easily agitated. When that happens, allow the staff to do what they are trained to do to calm that individual. Elderly attendees may have bathroom-related accidents and the staff members are trained for those situations. Workers in memory units are heroes. Thank them for letting you entertain in their spaces and places.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A miracle happens pretty much every time someone entertains in a memory unit. The veteran who seldom speaks rises to his feet for “God Bless America.” Walker or no walker, your song has someone dancing along. It’s quite something to be a miracle worker.
To share thoughts about this article please reach out to carlacabaret@aol.com
