Sometimes you get nice surprises

Some months ago, I got out our Yamaha keyboard (quite a sophisticated one left here by my younger son Joe) at our care/PS's suggestion. We wanted to see if S would 'play' it. Early attempts were not promising and we didn't really persevere.

Earlier on this week I started making a list of the various ideas we have tried by way of 'activities' for S, as getting her outside is usually very stimulating for her but recent uncertain weather has made this difficult.

We decided to try the keyboard. It was amazing. She sat in front of it and played around for at least an hour and a half. We helped a bit for the first 5 minutes and then we left her to it. At first she was hitting several notes simultaneously but soon concentrated on single notes, leaving regular pauses. The effect was rather like the kind of musical sounds that might be used for a meditation tape or video. It was quite relaxing. The keyboard has many different voices and we had set one that sounded like this anyway but the pauses she left between the notes she played added to the effect. I should say that she has never learnt to play a piano or any other musical instrument.

I would never have believed that such an activity would have lasted so long. Truly a revelation and we decided to see if this can become a regular activity. She has had another session two days later. Her daughter and an old family friend were equally amazed.

It's very easy, when so many attempts to engage a person have proved fruitless, to stop trying. This is a reminder that we should never do that.

Music on the Brain

I am very grateful to a member of the Alzheimer's Society's 'Talking Point' forum for posting a link to this very interesting video:

People with dementia have a lot in common with people who don't

This may sound obvious, but it's interesting to realise that many of the things that people with dementia do, and which sometimes attract comment, are things that people who don't have dementia also do.

Two recent examples that I've come across online:

Someone noted that their husband cried when moved by music. This is very common. In fact, I would think that most people at one time or another have experienced this themselves. In the case of a person with dementia it could be considered something worthy of celebration that this happens, as people with dementia can become apathetic and fail to respond to most external stimuli.

It's well known that many people with dementia talk to themselves and/or make noises when, for example, they are trying to concentrate on something. So do many, if not most, other people. Admittedly, people without dementia often talk to themselves silently but it's not uncommon for them to do this aloud.