Music & Memory, an inspirational program developed by Dan Cohen, is all about bringing joy into the lives of people suffering from Alzheimer’s, other forms of dementia and a wide range of cognitive and physical impairments. Re-connecting elders with their favorite music can vastly improve quality of life regardless of their cognitive or physical status. But it is especially powerful for those with Alzheimer’s disease, where it can restore, temporarily but repeatedly, the sense of self often lost when memory fails. Juniper Village at Naples implemented Music & Memory in mid-2015 and the results have been remarkable. Frances is one of our residents who has benefited from the Music & Memory program. She enjoys many types of music. We put on her headphones, press play, and she hears the customized music that is downloaded onto her IPod. Immediately her toes start tapping to her music from the 40’s and 50’s. We’ve even witnessed her “swivel” when Elvis starts singing. The Music & Memory program brings great joy, relaxation and fond memories to all our residents with dementia.
