Surely you are familiar with the Pink Panther... that cheeky prankster with the magical ability to appear and disappear, the smooth thief after valuable jewels, the stylish cat with a high level of curiosity who loves discovering and trying new things and a character featuring no voice. And surely you can hear the infamous theme song with its deceptively simple beat that is an audio recreation of the Panther's grace, style and wit.
Today's story is about another cheeky prankster with style, curiosity, a love for trying new things who doesn't use her voice to communicate. Let me tell you about my larger-than-life friend Helen. While a tiny lady in stature, Helen is as jaunty, joyous and memorable as the Pink Panther himself.
While Helen is no longer able to use her voice to communicate, oh man can she get her point across. She is attracted to all things bright, colorful and shiny. She is always decked out in a colorful shirt topped with a handful of brilliant plastic beads around her neck and a mischievous twinkle in her bright blue eyes.
One summer, I followed Helen around each day while she enthusiastically plucked each flower her neighbors and I had planted in the garden, snatching it up by its roots, the soil trailing behind her, pridefully carrying it around her neighborhood. Eventually, she would lose interest and set the fading flower down on a table or chair and I would swoop in to retrieve it and return it to the soil of the garden. I didn't dare try to take it from her until she was good and ready or she would become angry, swat me away, shoot me a nasty look and hold a grudge for a good long while.
I quickly learned that Helen was the one in charge of Helen. She would get easy aggravated with her Care Partners if they tried to impose their agenda upon her. Helen needs a shower today... nope, think again. Helen needs a clean pair of pants... not on your watch. Helen wants that ice cream sandwich you're stealthily unwrapping in the kitchen... watch out, she's coming for you. I also learned that music was the key to reaching Helen no matter what mood she was in.
I began to notice that when Helen was most happy and elated she would clap her hands in a particular rhythm and if I copied that rhythm, she would follow me to the ends of the earth and do almost anything I asked. It took me years to put two and two together, the rhythm she clapped was the Pink Panther Theme Song! Now this was the golden ticket! We could clap to the restroom, we could clap to the shower, we could clap through the garden without picking the flowers (well most of the time anyway).
Jonathan Graff-Radford M.D. from Mayo Clinic shares how music can help someone living with Alzheimer's Disease, "Research suggests that listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. Musical memories are often preserved in Alzheimer's disease because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged by the disease.
For example
, music can:
Relieve stress
Reduce anxiety and depression
Reduce agitation
Music can also benefit caregivers by reducing anxiety and distress, lightening the mood, and providing a way to connect with loved ones who have Alzheimer's disease — especially those who have difficulty communicating.
If you'd like to use music to help a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease, consider these tips:
Think about your loved one's preferences. What kind of music does your loved one enjoy? What music evokes memories of happy times in his or her life? Involve family and friends by asking them to suggest songs or make playlists.
Set the mood. To calm your loved one during mealtime or a morning hygiene routine, play music or sing a song that's soothing. When you'd like to boost your loved one's mood, use more upbeat or faster paced music.
Avoid overstimulation. When playing music, eliminate competing noises. Turn off the TV. Shut the door. Set the volume based on your loved one's hearing ability. Opt for music that isn't interrupted by commercials, which can cause confusion.
Encourage movement. Help your loved one to clap along or tap his or her feet to the beat. If possible, consider dancing with your loved one.
Sing along. Singing along to music together with your loved one can boost the mood and enhance your relationship. Some early studies also suggest musical memory functions differently than other types of memory, and singing can help stimulate unique memories.
Pay attention to your loved one's response. If your loved one seems to enjoy particular songs, play them often. If your loved one reacts negatively to a particular song or type of music, choose something else.
So get those hands clapping and toes tapping and see if your loved gets that mischievous twinkle in their eye and joy in their heart from a few deceptively simple beats.
Blessings,
Jenni
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