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All too many times overwhelmed caregivers are physically and emotionally depleted and need to take time to rest and care for themselves. Believing in a holistic approach to caregiver stress and a strong commitment to helping our members find the right solutions, we created this blog to help you connect with others who, like you, may be facing the same eldercare issues and challenges. Feel free to comment, ask questions, and submit articles. Please forward the blog link to your family and friends. They'll be glad you did.

Warm regards,

Patricia Grace
founder & CEO
Aging with Grace

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Music soothes the soul and takes us back...

by Patricia Grace

Recently I blogged on another site that listening to music was a wonderful activity for a person to share with a family member that is suffering with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Music like Alzheimer's takes us back to a memory that we associate with another time in our life.

As a child growing up (I'm now 59) I always loved the soulful sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, Morgana King, Cleo Laine, Shirley Bassey, Etta James and Rae Marnie. Each of these great artist recorded a song that when I hear it, a memory is triggered of an event or a person in my life.

My father has been gone since 1984 and when I feel that my memory of him is not as crisp as I would like it to be I listen to Frank Sinatra (the early years) or Glenn Miller. As I write this I am listening to Moonlight Serenade with tears overflowing...I see that handsome young soldier dancing with the beautiful young woman with the flower in her hair... I will have that picture in my mind forever.

Ms Marnie, thank you for your beautiful rendition of My Funny Valentine. When I first heard you sing this on Valentine's Day, it triggered the memory of my dad singing it to my mom every Valentine's Day...what a wonderful gift you and the other Ladies of Soul have. Thanks for sharing it!

2 comments:

  1. There was something about this on the news the other evening. Were you a part of this study?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for sharing this memory of your parents. Reading it helped trigger some fond memories of my parents from when I was very young. Most of my childhood memories of them are not very pleasant, however this for whatever the reason triggered good ones.
    Bless you.

    ReplyDelete

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