What I love about this post is that is points out something we often forget: caregivers have to prioritize taking care of themselves. It's hard to do, but it's so important. I learned this lesson almost accidentally when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I'm not her primary caregiver, but her diagnosis changed my life nonetheless. (I wrote about it recently on my blog. I'll included the link, if you'd like to check it out: http://starfishenvy.typepad.com/starfish-envy/2009/07/you-spin-me-right-round-baby-right-round.html

jjobse

3 months ago

Thanks, this has been working with me...Mom will have nothing but TV sound, so far. I'm still working on her, starting with music radio in the car as we make our rounds. I know it will help, as soon as I get through. For me, it saves my sanity!

LindaK

3 months ago

I am a private music teacher and church musician for more than 25 years. In addition, for the last 10 years, I have been conducting choruses of seniors at senior centers and in assisted living and senior communities. All the groups perform reguarly within their facilities and frequently in schools, for town events. Two groups have performed with the local community symphony orchestra. One group even went overseas to perform with another community group. Many of my chorus members have reported that their doctors comment that they don't know what they are doing in chorus, but whatever it is, they seem to be far healthier than before the joined the group. One reason, I think (I'm not a therapist), is because I teach them to breath correctly, which promotes relaxation. Several singers with cancer, have reported that they only get out of bed for doctor appointments and for chorus. Chorus is the "fun" activity in their life that helps them get thru the rest of their week. Before I started working with seniors, I was aware that musicians are asked to play slower, more calming music in fine dining restaurants and when playing in a bar musicians are asked to play upbeat music. This is because we unconcously eat, drink and move to the tempo heard. In other words, economics gets involved in that restaurants don't want patrons to get indigestion so they require slower musc while bars make more money when patrons drink more. As I have aged, my own osteoarthritis has gotten progressively worse and now, when I conduct a 30 minute performance, my knees hurt for the following two days. I told my orthopedic (I'm to have replacement surgery) that the best pain killer I've found is making music. While I am conducting I feel NO pain! (I'm planning to take my ipod to PT)! Over the years, I have also noted that when I am in emotional pain, making music focuses my insides and a 20 minute "treatment" soothes me and gives me a better perspective on whatever was causing the pain. All this to say, I don't fully understand it, but I sure can attest that it works!