Watch the video... another upcoming documentary...

http://www.musicandmemory.org/

Karma or what? I just came from viewing this clip - my daughter sent it to me on Facebook just now. Phenomenal what the power of music can do.

Bill, to me, this is the most significant item posted here in a long while.

As you know, I am on the board of an organization called Kentuckians for Nursing Home Reform. What a life-affirming piece of work!

Ironically, I just had a license plate done for my new car which says "Music Matters".

While my focus is improving conditions and legislative efforts to improve care, this is an eye-opener.


R.

Good post Bill, something those of us that perform daily in NH environments experience on a daily basis. One of the places I perform twice monthly is an Alzheimer center, where 85 percent of the patients appear to be asleep when you arrive. As soon as the music begins, many of them begin tapping their feet, some will sing along with you, and a small percentage will get out of their chairs and dance with the staff. At this particular location, many of the young ladies on the staff have been with the center for a decade or more. They are very caring individuals and deal with death on a daily basis. They are indeed rare people that should be applauded for their efforts on behalf of the patients.

Thanks again for the link,

Gary

Like Gary, I too see this kind of thing at least on a weekly basis. A year ago during one of my gigs a lady suddenly stood up and sang a song I was playing and when the song ended she sat down. Everyone was very exited about her singing and I later was told that was the first time anyone in the facility had heard her utter a single word in three years. Yes, music matters folks.

Good post Bill.

Deane

Just thought I'd pop in and comment on such an excellent post, Bill.

Having dealt with two family members with dementia/Alzheimer, I can personally attest to the power of music in getting a positive response from those stricken with such a horrible disease.

I played every day for both my aunt and uncle and it never failed to bring them around and to also bring a smile to their faces.

Yes, music is powerful...and important...it touches places in our souls like nothing else.

Thanks Bill,

Ian

Guys, I feel compelled to say that, as good as some staff members are (and many of them are GREAT), there are way too many bad and untrained ones. The "for profit" nursing home sector fights minimum staffing efforts, background checks...literally anything that will hold them accountable for measurable standards or increase expenses. In most states they have extremely strong, big lobby efforts.

Ever see ANY oral health care, for example? I haven't, and I visit a nursing home as day, and have for the last 16 years.
Bad dental conditions are the causes of many infections...pneumonia...heart problems...the kind of things that kill residents.

Please remember to check ratings (Gary, I know there are some problems with the rating system, but it's better than nothing) and follow the efforts of folks in your area striving for Nursing home Reform.

The above comments are in no way reflective of anything negative about those who play at Nursing homes.

That's a noble thing to do.


Russ
(Damn, I did it again...sorry for the "sidetracking").

Russ,
In the past 7 years I have filed complaints with the state on two places I played because of mistreatment of residents I witnessed by a staff member. You are right on target about staffing. The other issue in Texas now is the cutbacks we have seen in money spent on each facility by the corp office. I often run into people who have moved from one place to another because the fees charged to them went up and services declined so they moved. Some places have gone from weekly entertainment to monthly entertainment. Some places have cut staff or added extra responsibilities to existing staff members. Who know what else they cut to save a few dollars?

Deane

I realize I do not play NEARLY the amount of NH gigs as a lot of players here, nor have I had the exposure Russ has, but I am very fortunate that the NH I have played certainly seem to be staffed by caring, knowledgeable people ...
That being said, about 8 years ago, after my first knee replacement, I was to spend 5 days in a NH because they had an excellent Physical Therapy unit ... Instead of being placed in an ambulatory PT section, I was put in the regular patient section ... On the third day, after having a loooong talk with the nutritionist and other management people, I signed myself out ... I referred to the place as the "Bates Motel, Nursing Home and Rehab Center"

This place was no joke for the patients who were in there ... Fortunately, a couple of years later it was taken over by some folks who know how to run such a facility ...

Tony and Russ, I agree with both of your comments. I've had lots of first hand experience, and in my case, from both sides of the fence. Keep in mind that I have a fairly extensive medical background, and I witnessed, first hand, the best and the worst. And, like Deane, I have reported incidents taking place a couple facilities. It infuriates me smell urine and feces when I walk in the door of a NH or assisted living center, especially when they try to cover it the foul odor with heavily scented sprays. That smell translates to just one thing--NEGLECT! And, I concur about the dental hygiene issue, having witnessed this first hand as well. Ironically, the same problem occurs in most hospitals as well. No one thinks about dental hygiene at all, and no one checks on this issue other than a handful of concerned relatives.

Gary