This is not exactly a Christmas story, but very heart warming story about how out of the box thinking took a residents distress and turned it in to joy.
My favorite senior living stories are those where the care team is faced with an impossible resident situation and takes the path of creativity to create an amazing solution. This is one of those stories. Mr. Smithā is a new participant the social model dementia daycare program at Charlieās Place in Baton Rouge, LA.
The Story
(as told by Dana Territo, Director of Services)
This morning, āMrs. Smithā pulled up to Charlieās Place to drop āMr. Smithā off for the day.
For the second time in a week, Mr. Smith refused to get out of the car. The first time Mrs. Smith got so exasperated that she just went back home with him. I was determined it wasnāt going to happen again.
Our staff took great measures in redirection and coaxing him to get out of the car. Our coordinator tried offering him fruit; Our Administrative Assistant tried enticing him with chocolate chip cookies. Nothing worked.
He would grab one of our hands and squeeze it so hard that it pinched the rings on our fingers. His feet wouldnāt move to get out of the car.
Mrs. Smith finally went inside our offices (chilly day) and left him in the car as we worked to get him moving. I got in the driverās seat and Mr. Smith immediately clutched my hand.
I noticed a Florida State āGatorā paper fan in the back seat and, knowing he was a graduate, I picked up the fan and started talking about the āGators.ā There was some reaction but no movement.
At that point I asked our intern to go get our It’s Never 2 LateĀ® (iN2LĀ®) shuttle and pull up the Gator Fight song on YouTube. She ran and got the shuttle and tried, but the wireless didnāt work outside.
I remembered from Mr. Smithās profile that he has been a choir member for over 20 years at a local Baptist Church. So, I started talking with him about the choir and then I started singing some familiar hymns.
His mouth started moving. He started singing. I then asked the intern to get the portable therapy-lite iN2LĀ® and hook it up near the entrance door of Charlieās Place. With the help of another staff member, they started playing HYMNS on the iN2LĀ®, in particular, āThis is My Story, This is My Song.ā
Instantly Mr. Smith was alert to the song and started singing the words. I asked him to follow me inside to pray and join others in praise and worship. The staff all joined in, too. Mrs. Smith came to the door and heard the music and started singing to the lyrics on the screen. Mr. Smith got out of the car, held my hand, and continued singing all through the entrance and living room of Charlieās Place. (I really suspect that he thought he was going to church!)
The intern put the same song on the stationery iN2l and he stood there for moments, following the lyrics and singing. We put hymn after hymn on, and soon, the other Charlieās Place clients were joining in praise and worship. Mr. Smith was smiling proudly. I was in tears. Once the music was over, Mr. Smith sat down, and as I had promised him earlier, we pulled up the āGatorā fight song off the YouTube on iN2L and we all helped him cheer for his alma mater.
It might have taken 30-40 minutes of coaxing him to get out of the car, (we have to be so patient with individuals with Alzheimerās), but the iN2lĀ® System was the perfect solution in attracting him and getting him to stay for the day at Charlieās Place.
While this is this a great testimonial for It’s Never 2 LateĀ®, perhaps the bigger lesson is how these compassionate care givers used creative out-of-the-box thinking to solve a problem . . . though even that is not quite right, because this was a solution that went way beyond just solving a problem. It became a life affirming experience for both Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Steve Moran
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Enjoyed the story of caring.
On the right side of your site are always links to relevant stories. LOVE the link to the ‘Flash Mob’ video this morning. I had to copy and send to my mom who lives in a CCRC. I wouldn’t be surprised she and her friends do something like this. Thanks for the links and news Steve.
From LinkedIn Groups
Two words — persistence and music. I like how the staff refused to give up — such an important and sacrificed quality these days — everyone is too busy. And music, on any technological platform, can sooth and reach and transform. Possible [probably] the power of God through music in this case. In many cases.
By F. Todd Winninger
From LinkedIn Groups
Wonderful story!
By Linda Landsberg
From LinkedIn Groups
It’s funny how music can spark memories (good and bad). Would love to see more research on this particular topic (Alzheimer’s and music for memory recollection).
By Shelley Hillen, PMP
From LinkedIn Groups
It’s probably related to the part of the brain that stores music. Perhaps it is not one of the areas affected early in the disease for most people. I suppose I’d need a hefty grant to prove that, but it’s a theory š
By Lorie Eber
From LinkedIn Groups:
You are welcome Steve. Subject very close to my heart having been a carer for my Hubby with Huntintington’s disease. (see poem below).
A Happy New Year to you too.
The Magic of Music
Introduction
Professor Edmond Chiu, as Senior Lecturer ā University of Melbourne, gave a presentation on HD and noted āOur experience is that the Huntingtonās patient retains the ability to appreciate music right to the end. It may be that the part of the brain controlling music ability and music appreciation is not affected by Huntingtonās Disease. We donāt know where that part of the brain is, but where ever it is they appreciate music. That is a very important part of their quality of life.ā
This poem tries to reflect my own husbandās continued love of music which seemed to stimulate his brain and generated much dialogue between us. A certain track or video would trigger memories and/or emotions. I found it important to have music around us and listen out for familiar tracks where my husband would want to talk about the group; a concert we went to etc (Rock or eighties music in our case).
Even if Steve only got out a few words, my giving him my automatic attention and adding a little bit at strategic moments to show I was listening/sharing/appreciating his thoughts, seemed to truly awaken him. In its own right though, music by any media would bring him back to how things were before HD started fighting for his capacity to think. It was as if music, and the memories thereof, was so precious it was held somewhere deep in the brain protected from that wishing to destroy it.
Heās 10 years into symptoms;
The illness taking hold.
A couple of infections,
Have helped to make him old.
The frame once large and muscular,
Has since been taking flack.
A special chairās been purchased,
To help support his back.
And whilst to most observers,
Heās not the man he was,
His friends all know itās not the case,
Heās still the same because.
Because when they play music;
When hard rock fills the air;
The change in him amazing!
Their old mateās sitting there.