One important aspect of my project was to bring music to my Grandfather and others who, like him, had Alzheimer's disease. Music can make a very significant change to the life of a person suffering from the disease, but because those with Alzheimer's have trouble using technology such as phones, mp3 players, and CD players, this can be a challenge. I found special music players online at alzstore.com that are specifically designed for people with Alzheimer's disease:
These music players have a very simple mechanism, simply lift the beige lid to play music and close it to stop playing music. By pressing the black button, you can skip certain songs. However, if your relative is still proficient at using technology, a simple mp3 or CD player will work as well for this project.
Step 1: Music selection
Your family member probably has specific music that they enjoy and that makes them feel a certain way. If your family member can still communicate, try asking them what kind of music they like. If they are non-verbal, try playing music for them using your phone or other device to see what causes a positive response
Step 2: Music collection
Many websites have free to use music from some sort of an archive. For example:
However, you can also use the CDs, vinyls, and other music owned by your relative and put them into a digital format to be transferred to the music player. If you use a CD drive or record converter to create digital files, you might need to convert the file type to an mp3. This will be discussed in my other blog post about digitizing music
Step 3: Preparing the music player
If your family member is going to use a simple CD player or mp3 player, ensure that you have created some sort of short instruction or labelling for them as they may not remember how to use it and might feel awkward asking you to show them again. If you leave a short written instruction guide on how to use the device, your relative can consult it as much or as little as they need to without feeling awkward. If you will be using a device which already has labelling (like the Alzheimer's Store Music Players), there is little need for this. However, it could be beneficial in that situation as well depending on the degree of your relative's Alzheimer's disease. The device you purchase should instruct you on how to add and play music on it. For the Alzheimer's Store Music Players, all you need to do is connect the player to your computer using a usb cord, then drag and drop mp3 files into the folder on your desktop for the player.
Step 4: Placing the music player
Some people with Alzheimer's can become agitated and upset when their surroundings or their situation are changed. This can pose a problem if you try to add the music device to their bedroom or living area. If your family member becomes anxious or emotional when you try to place the music device, do not try to convince them to keep the player. The best thing to do is empathize and support them in whatever they need rather than insisting and making them more upset. If this happens, just remove the player and try again in a few days. Your relative may not be completely opposed to the music player, they might simply be having a bad day. Once you have successfully placed the music player, patiently explain to your relative how to use it and spend some time with them.
The process is complete!
Your family member can listen to music whenever they would like with ease. When I finished my project, I was blown away by the amazing responses of both the residents of Homestead Assisted Living and the staff. The nurses said that the music was a great way to calm patients when they had a bad day or when they needed to give them services. Overall, music is a great tool that, with a little work, can be easily utilized as a caregiver and family member to someone with Alzheimer's disease.