Music Therapy and Dementia in Eagle, Idaho

It is exciting to meet people for the first time and see there reaction to the music therapy.  I recently started working with a man in the later stages of dementia.  He could verbalize one to two word phrases and they were all out of context.  In short he had a disconnection with people and the world around him.  But because music therapy is awesome (I'm pretty sure there is research that proves it is awesome), as soon as the music began his face lit up and he sang with me for the entire session.  The music made a connection with him, and he was able to make meaningful connection with his wife through the music as well.

Music therapy and dementia patients in Nampa

While working with clients who have dementia, I have seen many connections made.  While doing music with them connections are the rule not the exception.  I remember seeing a patient in Nampa for the first time.  She lived with her husband of 60 years who was looking for some way to reconnect with her.  Almost immediately as I started doing music, the client began to sing.  A shock look came on the husbands face and he began to cry.  During the session he kept looking at his wife and saying, "See you do remember.  You do remember."  I love being able to give people those chances to reconnect and break through the barriers that come with dementia.