Did you know there is a link between music and memory when it comes to dementia? How would you feel if your loved one, suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, began tapping their feet, swaying, humming or singing, recalling memories and feelings of love, happiness or a sense of warmth and comfort? Well, I was overjoyed when I saw a video of just how effective an iPod can be with Alzheimer’s patients.

Have you ever struggled to get an annoyingly catchy tune out of your head? If so, you can blame your right anterior temporal lobe, a thumb-shaped region of the brain just behind your right ear. Here are some facts: this is the part of the brain responsible for the way we understand words, meanings and concepts. Damage to this region of the brain in people with some forms of dementia is called Semantic Temporal Lobe Dementia. This leaves them unable to recognize melodies previously known to them.

Semantic Dementia, or SD, is the second most common form of dementia in people under the age of 65. Patients are able to generate speech fluently but lose their knowledge of objects, people and abstract concepts. A study directed by Dr. Oliver Piguet and colleagues at theNeuroscience Research Center, in Sydney, Australia, wanted to understand why people with Alzheimer’s have difficulty with memory, yet can remember information if it is sung to them. To find out why, Piguet asked 27 volunteers (14 with Alzheimer’s, 13 with SD) with dementia to listen to pairs of tunes. Participants were asked to listen to 60 melodies. Thirty melodies were well-known, (for example, “Jingle Bells,”) and these tunes were matched with a new, unfamiliar tune in the same key with the same tempo. The melodies were played to participants in a random order, and after hearing each tune they were asked to say whether or not it was well-known, familiar tune.

Participants also heard 48 everyday sounds, such as a trumpet tooting, and had to match the sound to the appropriate image, in this case, that of a trumpet.

Piguet found that, as expected, people with SD performed worst at the tasks, picking out the famous tunes with a success rate of around 60 percent. Those with Alzheimer’s scored around 85 percent and 90 percent, respectively. People with SD matched the everyday sound to the right image around half the time while those with Alzheimer’s and the healthy participants were correct most of the time.

Caregivers have observed for decades that Alzheimer’s patients can still remember and sing songs long after they’ve stopped recognizing names and faces. Many hospitals and nursing homes use music as recreation, since it brings patients pleasure. But beyond the entertainment value, there’s now growing evidence that listening to music can also help stimulate seeminglylost memories and even help restore some cognitive function.

“What I believe is happening is that by engaging very basic mechanisms of emotions and listening, music is stimulating dormant areas of the brain that haven’t been accessible due to degenerative disease,” says Concetta Tomaino, executive director of the Institute for Music at Beth Abraham.

Dr. Tomaino, who has studied the therapeutic effects of music for more than 30 years, spearheaded a program back in 2009 to provide iPods loaded with customized playlists to help spread the benefits of music therapy to Alzheimer’s patients even at home. “If someone loved opera, classical, jazz or religious music, or if they sang and danced when the family got together, we can recreate that music and help them relive those experiences,” she said.

Dr. Tomaino has also said she frequently sees dementia patients make gains in cognitive function after music therapy. In one unpublished study she led a few years ago, with funding from theNew York State Department of Health, 45 patients with mid to late-stage dementia had one hour of personalized music therapy, three times a week, for 10 months, and improved their scores on a cognitive-function test by 50 percent on average. One patient in the study recognized his wife for the first time in months.

My brother, Tom Colamaria, is the executive director of Sunrise Senior Living Community, an Assisted Living and Memory Care community located in Woodland Hills, Calif. Their community is home to “The Choraliers,” one of the only Alzheimer’s chorus groups in the country. “The Choraliers,” make special appearances at local communities and nursing homes providing entertainment to residents.

The choir’s musical director, Patty Degen, is a Sunrise resident who was looking for a way to give back. As a retired music teacher, Degen knew there were others who love music as much as she does. What she found out was- not only are the Sunrise residents challenged with memory impairment eager to sing, but their ability to retain lyrics and music was excellent. So she organized the Sunrise choir and took the show on the road.

“Music stays with us, even when other memories fade,” says Tom. “Our goal is simple: to spread the joy of music to all as Sunrise celebrates its 30th anniversary. Next spring, who knows, perhaps we can even serenade baseball fans at Dodger Stadium.”

We all know just how dreadful a disease like Alzheimer’s is. It affects your entire family as it robs your loved one of their character and cognitive abilities.

Saw this touching video recently and was reminded how easy it is to restore comfort and joy to the live of a loved one—loved ones of all ages. Have you thought of providing your elder relative with a way to listen to his or her favorite music? We take for granted how much of a positive effect music has on our lives.

For more ideas on how to offer love and support to your loved ones, feel free to contact me. Giving our seniors happy, whole lives is my passion.

Clare

The CDC estimates around 300 people die every year from heat related ailments. It’s very important to make sure our senior family members are staying hydrated, and avoiding suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion. After all, this is the time of year to be out enjoying the sunshine—and important, mood-lifting activity for seniors.

Seniors’ bodies are less efficient at staying cool than younger people, so here are a few tips and things to be aware of.

• Seniors should take it slow! Plan to schedule outdoor activities for early mornings when it is cooler. Stick to shaded areas.
• Proper ventilation is essential—open windows, air conditioning, fans, etc.
• Dehydration from the body accelerates during the summer. Pay attention to what medications they are taking, as some medications cause extra loss of fluids and electrolytes from the body.
• Advise them to wear light colored, loose fitting, cool clothing (preferably cotton) and wear hats or caps and LOTS of sunscreen; their skin is more sensitive!
• Seniors should avoid caffeine and alcoholic beverages, as they accelerate dehydration. Buy bottled water by the case so it’s on-hand and available.
• Beware of exhaustion symptoms:  mild nausea, lightheadedness, faintheadedness, vomiting, clammy or cold hands and excessive sweating. The symptoms of heat stroke include: strong pulse, body temperature above 104 °F, hot, dry skin and mental confusion.

Feel free to call me for more information! I’m here to help and offer any advice I can.

-Clare

I have placed many seniors in the Saratoga Springs, NY area and surrounding communities. I work closely with the Saratoga assisted living and memory care communities and would be happy to describe them to you in person, explain the benefits of each, arrange an appointment to tour the property, and help you in making your decision.

Image courtesy The Good Shepherd.

Give me a call!

Clare

To potential clients searching for help with elder care options, finding an assisted living facility, or simply a shoulder to lean on who can offer the best of advice, A Senior’s Choice offers something unique: the local advantage.

• I’m on the ground—I know the territory!
• I visit assisted living facilities in Saratoga Springs NY, Ballston Spa, Malta, Wilton, Albany NY, Troy NY, Glens Falls, Clifton Park, and more. I see the buildings, I understand their services, I’m familiar with the properties, I know the caregivers, and they know me.
• I’ve been successfully placing mothers and fathers in Upstate New York in elder care facilities for years, and I pride myself on making the perfect fit for you!
• I’m close by, and I’m here for you. We’ll meet and talk until we get it right, and your loved one is getting the best possible care.
• I’m well connected in the community and happy to use my many resources to answer all your questions: financial planning, in-home care, and more.

To learn more about the various facilities I work with, browse my Facilities for Seniors category.

Clare

Read this testimonial from a client whose family member needed memory care and found the help and guidance they needed with A Senior’s Choice.

Dear Clare,

Since having been associated with you, we can only say this has been a tremendous help for us and my sister Ruth.  Fortunately, the wonderful care Ruth has been receiving at the Memory Care Community you assisted us in finding is most gratifying, it has already been over a year since she became a resident there.

Your involvement in this industry is extremely needed.  From the time we met you at our home, you were professional, caring, and extremely comforting. We were fortunate to have you recommended to us by our good friend and neighbor.  You took our information and went to work in finding a suitable residence for my sister. You followed through in every aspect and made our decision easy for us. Your services are very much needed with families today.

Should a prospective client want to contact us directly, we ‘d be happy to speak with them and share our story!

Very truly yours,

Theresa & Russell Gieselman

I have always been the “doer” in every aspect of my personal and professional life. Instantly Clare made me feel as if I had the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders, when she said to me, “Let me do that for you!” She made me feel as if I had a personal assistant at my side.

I thought I was a responsive person, but Clare blew me away…every phone call, every email, was answered practically instantly!

At a time where the road seemed so dark, Clare was my beacon, and to this day, I thank her all the time for guiding me in giving my mother the best, most perfect living arrangements anyone could have wished for.

Megan Kuntze

Clifton Park, NY

The time had come for me to make a decision about long-term care for my aunt, as she was no longer able to live on her own. A friend suggested I call Clare Colamaria at A Senior’s Choice as I didn’t know what to do.

I met with Clare, and with her help and expertise, we determined the level of care my aunt needed. Clare discussed all aspects of senior care and what different facilities provided. Clare then called facilities on my behalf and was able to find an appropriate residence for my aunt in less than one week! This was a tremendous relief and gave me and my family great peace of mind.

I highly recommend A Senior’s Choice services, Clare and her staff are dedicated, professional and fully understand how delicate transitioning is for elders while insuring a smooth transition is possible.

Arthur Vandervoort

Clifton Park, NY

Clare,

Thank you so much with your help in ultimately finding a facility for my mom.  Had it not been for your efforts and knowledge of the system, I would still be trudging all over looking for a place.  One thing I have learned going forward, is how difficult the process really is.  You’ve taken a complicated and stressful situation and simplified it… I thank you.

“A Senior’s Choice” is a service that is definitely needed in this area.

Warm Regards,

Peter Berezansky, Ballston Spa, N.Y.

I have placed many seniors in the Albany, NY area and surrounding communities. I work closely with the local communities and would be happy to describe them to you in person, explain the benefits of each, arrange an appointment to tour the property, and help you in making your decision. Call me if there’s a community you have in mind; I’m here to help you make an informed decision!

I have placed many seniors in the Clifton Park, NY area and surrounding communities. I work closely with the local communities and would be happy to describe them to you in person, explain the benefits of each, arrange an appointment to tour the property, and help you in making your decision. Call me if there’s a community you have in mind; I’m here to help you make an informed decision!

Clare

• Is their driveway and walkways clear from wet slippery leaves?
• Is water collecting on slippery surfaces?
• Are their hand railings and are they securely installed?
• When was their furnace last serviced?
• Are their windows easy to open and close?
• Do they use or need a cane or walker – something to think about?
• Are their sweaters, jackets and throws in a convenient place?
• Open up their frig – is there any foul odors, check expiration dates.

Keeping your loved ones safe brings comfort and warms hearts! Happy Autumn!!! 

No matter what part of the equation you are in, each one of us is faced with worries, fears, anxieties and stresses. I would probably have to say we are all a bit overwhelmed or perhaps you are not sure where to begin. Let us show you how we can help guide you…

To learn more about how we can assist you and your loved ones, go to our new website at www.aseniorschoiceonline.com