Good article about Alzheimer's & music - and a recent music experience I had with Peggy

GothicGremlin

I saw this article about music and Alzheimer's, which spoke to me, so I thought I'd share it along with some music news about Peggy.

The article:

Still there: Alzheimer's has ravaged his mother's memory, but music brings her back

This is the same for Peggy.

We were listening to Madonna in Peggy's room the other day, and I made a random comment about the music I listen to. Peggy said she wanted to hear some of it. Of course there's almost nothing I have that would be appropriate for a person with Alzheimer's to listen to.

But I know what she likes, and a female vocalist is key. So I came up with Shine by Kid Moxie. I don't consider it goth, although I hear it at goth clubs. It's kind of moody, but not dark - and not scary in any way. So, I queued up the song, adjusted the sound, and put the ear buds in Peggy's ears. Not long after the song started, she was tapping her feet. Once the second chorus kicked in, she was humming along. She had the chorus down, and this was on a first listen! I was impressed. It's not a difficult song, but it's something she's never heard, and she was able to pick it up.

I think that was Peggy's long years of being a musician kicking in. Oh, and she liked the song. 🙂 So, like the guy in the article, when you can't communicate with words, give music a try.

SusanB-dil

That is a special story. And also special with Peggy - especially after you just recently put together the playlist for her.

calmmorn

GothicGremlin, I loved your story. Music is also a big part of our days. Mom and I were out to lunch the other day and Weezer’s “Beverly Hills” came on. Mom started dancing in her chair, smiling and having a great old time. She is 84 years old and English is not her first language. She has never heard of Weezer. Shopping at Target, it was BTS and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. At daycare, it was Motown. She loves it all.

Day-to-day we mostly listen, sing and dance to old music in our native language. But I think it is the rhythm, beats, energy and opportunity to feel pure joy that gets her going. She always says “when there’s music I have to dance.” And I say “absolutely, what else can we do?”

There wasn’t a lot that I related to in the article, but this quote stuck out to me: “But after a while, they don't suffer anymore. They have no pain, and they just don't know what's going on. They don't recognize their family members, their loved ones, so they really don't suffer," Abraham says.

I hope that is true for my mother as the dementia progresses, even if she no longer remembers who I am.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful moment with your sister.

BassetHoundAnn

Thank you for the lovely story about Peggy, GothicGremlin. I'm so glad to hear she's enjoying the music selections you've created for her, and that it's giving her moments of awakening and pleasure.

And thank you for the linked story. I've wondered why Alzheimer's suffers retain so much feeling for music even as the rest of their brain disassembles. Makes sense that music pleasure is stored in the cerebellum which is not touched by ALZ.

There was a lady who was a neighbor of my mom's in assisted living. I spoke to her nearly every day for a year, but her dementia was so bad she never recognized me and I had to re-introduce myself to her each time we spoke. There was a grand piano in the dining room. Omigosh, how she could play! Classical, popular songs, show-tunes. She played everything from memory and without a single missed note. Truly amazing.

Calmmorn, I love the image of your mom dancing in her chair! 😄

harshedbuzz

Music is magic.

I'm glad it still speaks to Peggy. The only time I saw my dad smile in the last 8 years of his life was at a MCF Valentine's party when the DJ played "Blueberry Hill" and dad crooned into the microphone. It was my parents' "song".

HB

Jgirl57

Sweet……

BassetHoundAnn

Last night my mom had a lash-out, freakout. She absolutely could not be redirected or calmed down no matter how hard we tried. Finally we put on her old favorite country tunes. Within moments she was singing along, smiling and tapping her feet. Music really does work.

calmmorn

BassetHoundAnn, that is amazing. I am so glad it helped your mom (and sorry that you had a rough night). I may need to try that with my mom’s mood swings as well. Thank you for sharing.