Memorable Moments
Particular achievements with dementia sufferers have been:
- Dementia sufferers speak for the first time in months during a Lost Chord concert
- Some who normally show no reaction at all have come to life again
- Those previously unable to communicate have been able to express themselves in music and dance
- Residents unable to speak have sung all the words to a familiar song from the past
- Dementia sufferers with quite violent and aggressive tendencies have been visibly calmed by the music
- Those who are totally confused and unable to sit for any length of time are encouraged to sit and listen for longer than anyone thought possible
"We are giving people with dementia a vehicle through which they can continue to communicate. The evidence of the power of live music in unlocking memories for people with dementia is striking and undeniable and the sense of achievement experienced by them is overwhelming."
Helena Muller, Lost Chord Founder and Chief Executive
Even more proof of how effective the musical stimulus has been over the last year:
- This year musicians Jill Padfield and Amanda Whiting wrote to me saying how moved they had been as they saw an elderly resident respond from a comatose state, “We had lots of requests for Elton John, the Carpenters and the Beatles. Brian loved playing the tambourine to the Beatles- thought he was Ringo Starr!
Gary, a new resident, was in a coma. We played Beatles songs, but with “Yesterday” he stirred. One of the carers could pick out sounds- a huge reaction- and his body was moving. I then moved the harp and played some more music of this genre. There were more reactions (he used to be a musician). The carers were in tears which caused a lot more around the room. It was very emotional and very moving. I have never experienced anything like this. We were very moved."
- Janet, one of our long standing Volunteers, recently sent in this report. Dorothy, who I remembered as being a good singer, was at first reluctant to sing because of bad back pain. Eventually, however, she sang many verses of 'Kateree', mostly in Italian. It was very moving to see her persevering and, despite her pain, giving a lovely rendition of this song which many people requested of her when she was young and won competitions. Christiana danced and kept asking for a beer, and a visitor of hers was moved to tears to see her enjoying herself so much. Walter was a complete star at dancing and singing and sharing some of his life story, at one point getting so excited his false teeth flew out! Another Dorothy who often reclines wanted to sit up today and, although quiet, attempted some words and hand movements. Anne danced a lot despite a broken arm.
- Recently I had a telephone call from a home on the scheme. The activities co-ordinator felt she had to ring to tell me that having been on the scheme for four years they had had some wonderful concerts but they had just had the best concert ever. She went on to say that one gentleman who hadn’t spoken for three years had just joined in singing the words to a familiar song. She was ecstatic!
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This proved to be a special moment for one of our valued Volunteers, Julie. Tess is 97 years of age and has become more fatigued over recent months. Today she was a little grumpy on arrival and it first seemed that she would perhaps choose to sit quietly with her daughter. However, when the opportunity arose to play one of her favourite tunes, ‘Edelweiss’, she visibly brightened for a little while. The really special moment came a little later though when the talk turned to Gracie Fields - this proved a real catalyst and both her daughter and carers were delighted to see her not only joining in with gusto to sing ‘Sally’, but to give an enlightened account of her time working in the same mill as Gracie Fields in Wigan. From this she also mentioned George Formby and our musicians valiantly obliged with ‘Cleaning Windows’. It was a truly magical few moments – Tess was energised and these wonderful melodies and their notable lyrics seemed to over-ride the significant hearing loss this lady suffers. Memory and melody triumphed, and Tess’s daughter was thrilled to see her mother’s delight.
- Barry is in a very severe unit in Rotherham and when I visited during a recent concert, he was slumped in a bed chair, eyes shut with his head on one side showing no response. Having ignored him for the first half of the concert, I felt moved to go over and I knelt down in front of him, held his hand and sang along with the Soprano. He very gradually opened his eyes, lifted his head and even smiled at me. He tapped his hand at the side of the chair to the beat of the music and eventually started clapping. By the end of the concert he was actually attempting a conversation with me. Had I not gone over, he might have remained slumped in his bed chair with no response! What is more the following month there was Barry sitting lively and smiling with a carer at his side and getting involved with the music as much as he could. “Barry loves his music” the carer said. I knew Barry loved his music, but what was more important was that she now knew he did!
- At the beginning of the concert Roy remained slumped in his chair with no response until Mary, the volunteer decided to attempt to get him involved. We were all absolutely astounded when she managed to get him to his feet and dancing enthusiastically to the beat of the music. He has no verbal communication or facial expression but his rhythmic movement indicated to all of us how much he was enjoying the session. The carers were shocked to see him get so involved and hopefully they now know what sort of music engenders this sort of response. He even managed to wink and blow me a kiss!!
- Yet another phone call today from a Sheffield home. They told me that one of the residents, who had spent the last three years in her room only venturing out when there was no one around, attended the concert for the first time. Even though she was persuaded to come along everyone thought that she would turn tail and go back to her room as soon as she saw the room full of people. However she stayed and played percussion along with everyone else. She even asked to be included next time!
- At a recent concert performed by musicians playing the harp and flute, one gentleman who was badly affected by Alzheimer’s, was accompanied by his wife as a visitor. She told the volunteer that he had been head of music and had conducted male voice choirs all his life. The musicians made a huge fuss of him and as the music went on he started to conduct it quietly to himself. Eventually, as the volunteer sang to him, they both ended up conducting each other. Afterwards his wife was quite emotional and said that it was the most responsive she had seen him in the last six months.
By encouraging the residents to play musical instruments and percussion we can achieve increased stimulation and witness some truly amazing responses.