Music has been suggested as a good medium for those who are experiencing dementia. Any search of the Internet would bring up positive experiences of such initiatives. I want to share how music changed things here last night after a M being exhausted for most of the day. Before outlining our musical evening I will share brief details of our day.
At 8.30 pm I gently woke M from her second long sleep of the day. I asked her if she wanted a drink and encouraged her to eat coronation chicken sandwiches, I lifted her mood by familiar antics associated with being the chef in residence. I managed to persuade her to take a blood thinning tablet.
When she had finished her meal I said that it was time for us to deliver fish to C. She said that she could not cope with her Aunty at this time in the morning: it was too early. She encouraged me to pop round alone.
I suggested that she could fold up some tea towels that I had fetched in off the line and put out further clothing on the line. On return the tea towels were on the line: the wet clothing remained in the washing basket. I decided to put South Pacific on the C D player as we tidied up the kitchen and sorted out the washing. Once we had completed our chores I immediately put extracts from the musical on YouTube. What followed was a revelation with Maureen demonstrating an incredible memory for a number of musicals.
She sang along with great gusto to numbers form a variety of shows as I took full advantage of the facilities of YouTube. M amazed me with her knowledge of the shows naming producers and leading artists. After two hours of solid enjoyment we retired to bed shortly before Wednesday arrived.
We have already discussed tonight’s opening show: the sound of Music. We may even dress up and invite M’s Aunty, a solid performer indeed.
The show must go on: there is life with dementia.
