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Personalized playlists provide comfort, evoke memories

Half Moon Bay Review - 6/15/2017

As a Music and Memory certified care organization, we are proud to offer the powerful benefits of personalized music as part of our continuing effort to provide the highest quality care to San Mateo County's senior population.

Grounded in extensive research, the Music and Memory program helps people living with a wide range of cognitive and physical challenges find renewed joy in life through musical favorites. Our team is trained to develop personalized play lists, delivered through iPods, as part of an individual's plan of care.

In conjunction with the Coastside Adult Day Health Center and Home Helpers, anyone can benefit from the power of listening to musical favorites. As we build this program throughout the San Mateo County senior community, we will be able to offer it to all who are interested.

This program has been found to be effective for a variety of impairments and disorders. It has been shown to help people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, those who are bed-bound or on dialysis or ventilators, as well as people with chronic pain or in hospice care.

How can personalized music make a difference in the life of a senior?

t Beloved music helps to reduce depression and anxiety;

t Musical favorites tap deep memories and can improve the quality of life;

t Participants are happier, more social and receptive to care and family visits;

t Personalized music can help reduce reliance on antipsychotic, antidepressant and pain medications.

The program is very straightforward. A certified, trained individual sits down and interviews the potential recipient to find a favorite musical genre. It could be any type of music - it's very important that it is their music. A playlist is then created using iTunes and an iPod, which is provided to the individual along with a pair of headphones that fit over the ears. (Ear buds that go in the ears are not recommended.) Then, on a daily basis, the client listens to the personally tailored playlist for two or three hours, normally at a time when he or she might experience anxiety or agitation.

"We've begun rolling this program out to a select group of our attendees and so far have been extremely impressed with the results. One of our students was suffering from extreme anxiety and agitation. Minutes after we put the headphones on with their favorite music, they relaxed and began enjoying their day," said Janie Bono-James, the executive director of the adult day program.

Skilled nursing facilities are another place to roll out this program. Approximately 10 percent of skilled nursing facilities in the United States are currently participating. Short-term or long-term residents make ideal recipients of the service. In addition, assisted living facilities with memory units could benefit from adopting the Music and Memory program.

A personalized playlist program can be used as a jumping off point for other creative ways to enhance the environment with preferred music. Playlists can be designed for dining areas after surveying residents about what they like to hear. Breakfast music is more upbeat, lunch has more easy listening, and dinner is mellower, with calming, classical music.

In summary, this program is based on extensive research. It is proving useful for clients who are aging at home as well as those who reside in assisted living facilities or attend adult day programs. Personalized music has a very calming effect on those who use it. It also is a benefit to caregivers who sometimes have to deal with challenging clients who are suffering from anxiety brought on by some form of dementia. It also gives peace of mind to adult children who are involved in a parent's plan of care. It's a win for everyone involved.

More information about the benefits of personalized music can be found at www.musicandmemory.org. The website is very rich in content and quite informative.

Mitch Williams owns and operates Home Helpers Home Care and Home Helpers Healthcare of San Mateo County with offices in Half Moon Bay and San Mateo.

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