Music & Memory
For the past few months I have been volunteering at the Glebe Community Centre with the Music & Memory program. If you're unfamiliar with the program, I urge you to watch the video included below.
MUSIC & MEMORY℠ is a non-profit organization that brings personalized music into the lives of the elderly or infirm through digital music technology, vastly improving quality of life.
We train nursing home staff and other elder care professionals, as well as family caregivers, how to create and provide personalized playlists using iPods and related digital audio systems that enable those struggling with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other cognitive and physical challenges to reconnect with the world through music-triggered memories.
By providing access and education, and by creating a network of MUSIC & MEMORY℠ Certified elder care facilities, we aim to make this form of personalized therapeutic music a standard of care throughout the health care industry.
via http://musicandmemory.org/
We are truly lucky to have this program in Ottawa and I have seen, first hand, it's effect on residents. People who won't speak and barely acknowledge their external surroundings start smiling, bopping along and some even sing! This is a great program and I'm personally reaching out to A) make you aware, and B) solicit donations.
At the moment, I've been tasked with finding music from the following artists. If you have CDs or would like to donate some iTunes gift cards to the cause, please be in touch! CONTACT ME.
Julio Iglesias
Feist
Engelbert Humperdinck
Barry Manilow
Barbara Streisand
George Benson
Gypsy (Broadway musical)
John Coltrane
Louis Armstrong
Quincy Jones
Chanticleer
Sammy Davis Jr.
Tony Bennett
Rob Orbison
Barry White
John Secada
Doobie Brothers – (song:music is the doctor)
Chris de Burghs – (song: lady in red)
Yanni
Visiting Grandpa
It was really nice spending the day with my dad. Day #8 in hospital. Ryan brought Everett by for a visit and I snapped this adorable photo. We are all wanting Grandpa to get better soon!
I know your well wishes are appreciated! If you have any salutations for my dad, whether you know him personally or have had your own experience with cancer, you can send correspondence to:
Vern c/o Amy Volume
2001 Thurston Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1G 6C9
Get well soon, Dad!
My Dad is stuck in hospital following some pretty intense surgery - and things can get a little boring in there. If you want to join Chez106 in wishing my dad well, his name is Vern and here are some things he likes:
- music, records, bluegrass, bagpipes
- birds, Canadiana, outdoorsy things, Tim Hortons and the Ottawa Senators