The Power of Music To Make an Impact

In this blog post by AFA Teens Advisory Board member, Robbie Hynes, he shares his experiences playing music for residents with Alzheimer's disease and imparts how powerful its effects can be on individuals with the brain disorder.  

For the past several years I have been an active and proud member of AFA Teens. I first learned about the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America when I wanted to get further educated about the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the many ways in which doctors are working to find a cure for the disease. As a child growing up and witnessing my grandfather’s experience with this disease, I felt that I was unable to do anything but comfort him as much as possible. I concluded that if all of the brilliant doctors in the world couldn’t provide a cure, than what was I going to do?

When I entered high school I became more involved with AFA Teens through concerts that my siblings and I hold at assisted living facilities. I began to think of more significant ways in which I could contribute to help raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, and if possible see if music had any therapeutic value for individuals with the disease.

The way my family got involved in music started as individuals and more or less morphed into a traveling ensemble over time. We all play a string instrument. I play the viola; my oldest sister, Maggie, plays the cello; my younger brother and sister, Brigid and Tommy, both play the violin; and my youngest brother, Brendan, plays the viola. So, Maggie and I sat down one day and fished through all of the music we had in order to try and find a few pieces that would suit our wide array of skill levels (ages 7-18). We came across a book of simple classical numbers intended to be played by a quintet, and we rounded up the troops and held our first rehearsal.

It wasn’t long until we scheduled our first performance at the Norwell Knoll, an assisted living facility on the other side of town. When we arrived mid-day the director, Karen, greeted us outside the building and escorted us into the room where we would be playing. It was the first time the facility had had live music there. Karen said everyone was ready and waiting, and neither my siblings nor I had any idea of who or what to expect.

Walking into the room, we were welcomed by dozens of excited and rowdy residents. As my sister Maggie used to say when describing our “debut,” her first thought was, “How will they ever hear us?”

But something very different, very strange and very wonderful happened after we started playing. The room fell quiet, quiet enough to hear the vibrations of the strings, quiet enough to hear an older resident humming along in the back, quiet enough to even hear our own mistakes. And, that continued for 40 minutes until we finished.

The director and other staff members told us afterwards that they had never seen an “audience” there as quiet during a lunchtime event. The reaction we received that day prompted my older sister and me to focus our musical efforts on researching the possible impact of live music on cognition for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.  It also served to deepen our relationship with AFA Teens, including holding an annual candle lighting ceremony as part of AFA’s annual National Commemorative Candle Lighting event.

As others look for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, we’re doing our part to see if perhaps music may offer one building block toward improving quality of life for people with the disease.

Lessons Learned from Understanding Her Abuelita's Alzheimer's Disease

In this blog entry from AFA Teens Advisory Board Member Melissa Stepovich, she describes the lessons she has learned as she tries to understand her abuelita's Alzheimer's disease, and the various stages she must go through as the disease progresses.  

Alzheimer’s disease is not only a disease that affects memory, it is a disease that affects different aspects of a person’s life through changes in personality and behavior.  I have seen these changes in my abuelita (grandma), who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2003. 

By being with my abuelita, I have learned several things.  First, I have learned that patience is very important when being in the presence of my abuelita or anyone who has Alzheimer’s disease.  Having patience allows me to deal with whatever mood my abuelita is in that day.      

   
There are, in general, three stages of Alzheimer’s disease: the mild stage, the moderate stage and the severe stage.  Symptoms of the mild stage include becoming confused in familiar places, taking a longer time than usual to finish regular daily tasks, and minor mood changes.  These symptoms are frequently confused with changes that occur when someone ages. Problems recognizing family and friends, intensified memory loss, and repeating stories or motions are the indications of the moderate stage.  In the severe stage of Alzheimer’s disease, a full-time caregiver is often needed to assist with all daily activities, such as eating, going to the bathroom, and getting dressed.

    
Unfortunately, my abuelita is in the severe stage of Alzheimer’s disease.  The severe stage requires me to pay close attention to my actions around her. Her mood and personality greatly fluctuate.  A simple smile could make her very happy or it could make her very angry because she thinks you are laughing at her.  

     
Overall, I have acquired a deeper level of patience and love for my abuelita.  Even though I know she will never be the same, I have learned ways to cherish every moment I have with her.

The Residual Power of Music

In this blog post, AFA Teens Advisory Board member, Liz Pires speaks to the residual power of music, its ability to heal, and how we can help use music to improve quality of life for people with Alzheimer's disease. 
 
It is generally acknowledged that music elevates mood, soothes fear and tension, and solidifies relationships. So how can it heal as well?

Neurologist Frank R. Wilson, who is an internationally respected, Pulitzer Prize nominated-author, labels music one of the hallmarks of humanity (Hodges 17). While most people are neither bestowed with the gift of musical ability nor the ear to distinguish between sharp and flat tones, every human being has the capacity to appreciate and experience music.

People with all types of disabilities are able to understand and enjoy music in a way that fascinates many doctors and scientists – and why is this?

The residual power of music…

Several years ago, an article in Wall Street Journal included information about a 28-year-old man in the Bronx, NY whose recovery from a stroke was helped along by music. The reggae and rap that emanated from his borrowed iPod aided him in walking again (Beck), emphasizing that music has an incredible healing power that is, mostly, indescribable.

In an article in The Wall Street Journal, Concetta Tomaino, D.A, the executive director of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, in the Bronx, NY, describes  music as "engaging very basic mechanisms of emotions and listening…stimulating dormant areas of the brain that haven't been accessible due to degenerative disease."  The institute’s internationally recognized programs use music therapy to assist the "awakening and healing" of individuals with various neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease.

  

I’ve found that music’s click of familiarity possesses a calming feeling, a sense of home for anyone and everyone. Just as our skin feels warm and our head begins to gently bob to the sound of a favorite song slowly making its entrance, an individual with Alzheimer’s disease may be able to do the same. The process of measuring an individual’s ability to react to familiar music can be unreliable; however, music still has a charming, undeniable force. The rush of music can call up distilled memories or just feel recognizable, like warm water trickling into a tired, dry plant. It’s nourishment.

I urge others to explore the magic of rhythm and beat in the face of the devastation of Alzheimer’s disease. One idea that I find to hold colossal potential and requires little effort is an organized music drive to benefit people with Alzheimer’s disease. In every way possible—from stopping by garage sales to asking storeowners, friends and neighbors, collect used and new iPods, CD players, CDs and cassettes to donate to organizations with programs for people with Alzheimer’s disease.  Or better yet, to make this drive even more impactful, find out what types of music the residents have enjoyed in the past and try to collect those songs. In addition, you can find individuals or groups to perform familiar music at senior centers or care facilities.

Easy. With those simple acts, you can make an immense impact on many peoples’ lives and simultaneously involve the community, which would also help raise awareness of the disease.   

Hodges, Donald A. "Implications of Music and Brain Research." Special Focus. Music     Educators Journal, Sept. 2000. Web.

Beck, Melinda. "IPod Therapy for Alzheimer's Patients - WSJ.com." Business News & Financial News - The Wall Street Journal - Wsj.com. 16 Nov. 2009. Web.

How One Novel Shaped a Teen's Experience Volunteering in the Alzheimer's Community

In this latest post from AFA Teens Advisory Board Member Abril Resendiz, she reviews a novel entitled “Still Alice” and suggests how it has helped her as a volunteer at Alzheimer’s organizations. 

For the last several years, I have been volunteering at several different types of organizations, but nothing has had more of a colossal impact on me than volunteering at a care facility for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
     I began volunteering at a care facility near where I live in Texas during my freshman year of high school and from the moment I started there, I felt an inexplicable sensation. I soon realized that the people who I was talking to were cognitively impaired. And as a result, our conversations were rather circular. At first, I could not ascertain how to talk to the residents, but after a few visits I realized that the key was to engage them in a conversation in a way that was most meaningful for them.
     I formed such a strong connection with these residents that I felt I should learn more about their illness. I wanted to expand my knowledge of Alzheimer's disease to be able to interact with the residents in the most effective way possible.
     I read several books to further learn about the disease, and even though they guided me to understand the biology of the disease, I still remained unaware of how someone with Alzheimer’s disease would actually feel as the disease progresses. That is, until I came across the novel, “Still Alice,” written by first-time author Lisa Genova, who holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Harvard University.
     The novel is a compelling, heartbreaking and terrifying story about a 50-year-old woman named Alice Howland, who is a brilliant Harvard professor, wife and mother of three. The novel depicts her sudden descent into early-onset Alzheimer's disease and the impact that it has on her life. While most books about Alzheimer’s disease are written from the point of view of a clinician or other healthcare professional, “Still Alice” is written from the point of view of Alice, the person who actually has the disease. I believe that this literary approach makes the book that much more powerful.
     As Alice slowly starts to lose her cognitive abilities, the story becomes more difficult to follow. Yet, although the description of events as told from Alice’s perspective becomes less clear, mirroring the course of the disease, what is gained is much more powerful: You get to see the feelings of frustration, anxiety and turmoil that Alice experiences.
     I believe “Still Alice” is a compelling book that can help family and friends connect more effectively with their loved ones and better understand what they are going through.
     The insight I gained from the book has, no doubt, helped me become a better volunteer. One of the caregivers at the facility once told me that she saw me as a messenger—that through my visits, I was delivering joy into these residents’ lives. However, in reality, I see myself as the recipient of this joy, a joy that I believe I acquire each time I volunteer.

How to Overcome the Loss of Communication Caused by Alzheimer's Disease

In this latest post from the AFA Teens Blog, 2011 AFA Teens Advisory Board member, Chris Schloss provides meaningful suggestions on how to overcome the loss of communication caused by Alzheimer's disease.  

One of the many frustrating aspects of coping with loved ones affected by Alzheimer’s disease is the loss of communication. More than likely, over time, the disease strips people of their ability to remember words, communicate thoughts and even to understand the life stories you might want to share with them. This limited communication is a fact that many caregivers find hard to accept.

But, in order to move forward through this sad period, caregivers can make the most out of the time they have with loved ones with the disease by cherishing the precious moments that remain. If a caregiver can proceed to this step, he or she might ask many questions: “How do I make the most out of our remaining time?”, “How can we still communicate if I can’t tell him/her anything?”, and “How can I get help?” Both my grandmas currently have or had Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Only one is still here for me now, and I am facing these types of questions as my relationship with her continues to change as a result of her illness. 

Now, whenever I tell my grandma anything pertaining to my personal life, it’s hard to believe that it will only entertain her for a few brief moments at most. Lately, it has escalated to the point where we hardly speak because of the pandemonium. 

I have discovered that the most successful way to bring her to a calm state is simply to reminisce with her over her childhood memories or engage her in discussion about the things that she enjoys. 

Once, during a stretch of long, chaotic days, my sisters and I brought over our black lab. This acted like a quick remedy for happiness; I hadn’t seen her that happy for months. She didn’t stop smiling, laughing and petting the loving dog, and my sisters and I saw a glimpse of how we remembered her a few years prior. Another time, when, things went bad, my mom and I took the advice of another AFA Teens advisory board member and played Puerto Rican Christmas music for her, even though the holiday season was nowhere near. Again, she was ebullient because she still remembered the memories of the carols. 

The most important factor in keeping a loved one relaxed and sociable is to make the person feel as comfortable as possible, at all costs. Sometimes, when all else fails, just sitting quietly and holding the person’s hand is the best way to connect. Making the most out of the time you have with a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease isn’t necessarily figuring out how to communicate your own personal life, but rather stepping back and enjoying being in the moment.

How "Mannies for Grannies" is Utilizing the Power of Touch to Aid People with Alzheimer's Disease

In this blog post by 2011 AFA Teens Advisory Board member Lexi Gray, learn about the importance of touch for people with Alzheimer's disease and how she is truly making a difference with her service organization, "Mannies for Grannies." 

The power of touch is a subject that has been studied for decades. Newborns, for example, need human touch because it helps them feel the same sense of security that they felt inside their mothers’ womb. Studies have shown that babies who are not touched can suffer from health problems, including failure to thrive, poor immune systems and even brain damage. Children in orphanages are often not held or touched enough, and are sometimes afflicted with “severe social problems.”  In some extreme cases, children’s deaths have been linked to lack of touch.

     
These studies are prime examples of how important touch really is to the human race. While not quite as detrimental as the lack of touch for newborns, the need for touch for older adults is very strong as well. Adults are known to lead happier, healthier lives when they receive loving touch from others on a regular basis.

     
Unfortunately, for people afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, they often receive too few visitors and limited human interaction. 

      
Realizing this inspired me to start an organization called “Mannies for Grannies.” Through “Mannies for Grannies,” I take a small group of middle and high school aged girls to a nearby nursing home to give manicures and hand massages to the residents with Alzheimer’s disease.

      
And although we are not professional manicurists, the residents really do seem to benefit from our visit. I believe this may simply be because they are receiving the attention they need and deserve from others.   So our visits are really not about how great their nails look after we are finished, but instead, it’s about how our visits make the ladies feel on the inside after they have received human interaction and touch.

     
I know that perhaps the residents do not remember our visits soon after we leave and I know that giving the residents manicures and hand massages will not cure their disease.  However, my hope is that it does enhance their lives in a positive way.

     
So if someone close to you has Alzheimer’s disease, remember to hug and use touch with them often.  And if you are so inspired, you can also start a service organization that brings the power of touch to those who are often forgotten.

     
Editor’s Note: For more information on how to “Tap the Power of Touch,” check out the Fall 2010 issue of care ADvantage magazine, AFA’s quarterly publication for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses.

What You Should Do to Support Your Relative

In this latest post from an AFA Teens Advisory Board Member, Andrew Hsu explains what you should do to support your relative who has dementia from a teens perspective.

When we are young, our parents are supposed to take care of us. From the time we were born, even to now, our parents, if we are lucky, are always supporting us physically, financially, emotionally and in many other ways.

We’re kids. We’re supposed to be carefree, or at the very least, mind our own business. Anything that was not school related and was confusing was automatically tossed to our parents to deal with. They’re the adults and we’ve pretty much ingrained in our minds that they would forever be the ones who would take care of us; that they would be the ones to solve all the problems; that they are all-powerful.

At least that’s what I thought when I was growing up. Now that I’m transitioning into adulthood, the experience is surreal. The adults in my life are getting older, and I’m starting to realize that my parents and other relatives are like any other human beings. They get old, too, and now, the fact of our elders getting sick, getting older and dying is suddenly becoming more and more real.

When a relative has Alzheimer’s disease, you need to assure the relative that he or she has your support. The person will be less and less able to think and organize his or her thoughts in order to communicate, so you have to be very patient and understanding. Don’t be disappointed if your relative is having trouble recognizing you. It’s not because he or she doesn’t love you anymore. It’s simply because he or she is unable to recognize you. Don’t get frustrated, and be sure to visit often. Don’t interrupt when the relative is trying to speak because it will cause everyone to be frustrated and that’s not what we ultimately want.

In supporting your relative, it’s also important to understand that they often need the familiarity and repetition in their lives in order to minimize confusion and disorientation. Don’t be afraid to repeat what you just said because, with the person’s short-term memory loss, your relative might ask the same questions over and over again and you might have to repeat your answers.

The best thing to do is to always be understanding of your relative and always be patient, no matter what the circumstances. Although it may be challenging trying to communicate with your relative, always do your best. Now is the time to be as loving as possible. Do the best you can and always adjust! Hopefully, this helps with ways to support your relative in the event that he or she does end up being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.