MUSIC MIRRORS

Heather Edwards

A project supported by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Music is a language beyond words:

•  we understand and enjoy it without conscious thought

•  it can change mood and atmosphere

•  remind us of people and places

•  express feelings too complex for words

•  make our physical movements and speech easier

When we have dementia:

• music still opens doors to feelings, memories and communication when words have become difficult.

• linked to our unique life story - earlier years, key events, people and activities – music can help to preserve our identity and bring the past to life.

But for this we need a record, not so much of the music we enjoy now, but of what was important to us in our earlier years. And such information can be hard to come by…

‘It was very difficult to start any type of work with them (people with dementia) because there was simply no information available about their likes, dislikes, special avocations, life history or the circumstances that had led to their permanent institutionalisation, and, as verbal abilities and comprehension diminish, it becomes difficult to collect such information from residents themselves. For example, when playing music for someone, it took a long time to discover their favourite songs, melodies and types of music because this sort of information was not collected in the traditional medical notes.’ Gemma M. M. Jones & Bere M. L. Miesen eds (1992) Care-Giving in Dementia: Volume 1: Research and Applications: Vol 1 Routledge (Chapter 7, p101 A nursing model for care of the elderly).

Music Mirrors – enable people at an early stage of dementia to make their own simple self-portraits • short written prompts of life story linked to YouTube recordings of music • stored as an e-mail on disk, memory stick and paper hard copy • easy to use and share with family, friends and carers as needed • flexible, with any number of short written prompts and YouTube links • items can be added and edited at any time as the patient or family wishes • can be attached easily to personal or medical records

Empowering the person with dementia •  making the Music Mirror as early as possible means that

reminiscence and input can be a pleasure

•  a simple, positive and life-enhancing project at a time of uncertainty

•  affirms the value of the person with dementia

•  offers an enjoyable way of reviewing life and creating a legacy for family and friends

•  potentially creates understanding and bonds between carers and cared-for

A valuable resource • a self-portrait in music and one’s own words

• toolkit for engagement, comfort and reminiscence

• unique snapshots of an identity and the music linked to it

• used with the support of a second person via computer, tablet or smartphone

• supplemented by an audio CD of some or all of the music chosen

Making the Music Mirror

Manual outlines the various stages:

• practicalities – time, place, equipment

• hearing the person with dementia – it’s not an interview!

• exploring significant music

• assembling the Music Mirror

• using a Mirror

• planning for the future

An excerpt from Pat’s Mirror I was one of ten children – eight girls and two boys. My mother had a shop and my grandmother lived next door. My brother Jimmy used to play the piano and had a good tenor voice – I remember us singing around the piano on Sundays, mainly hymns. How great thou art: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKK3m9WOYuo You are my heart's delight (Richard Tauber): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtgmKpcgQ30

The Music Mirror may not be needed for some time, so make a compilation CD of some or all of the music to be used and enjoyed straight away. • use CDs from the patient’s or your own collection

• iTunes downloads

BUT remember that the CD is not the Music Mirror!

Using the Music Mirror may: • help someone to connect with their emotions and feel recognised and valued

• reinforce a sense of identity

• revive and support key memories

• prompt speech by linking familiar music with words or by triggering reminiscence

• spark connections with other people

• ease and promote physical movement

Sharing a Mirror is a privilege and responsibility – forget yourself and celebrate a life which has so much to offer!

Thank you for listening