By Phil McLachlan
Music has been implemented into many activities at the Rocky Mountain Village (RMV) retirement home for some time now. Within the past two years, a Music and Memory program has been initiated, to help spark life into the seniors using memories from their past.
“(Music) is very beneficial and we’ve known that for years,” said Rocky Mountain Village Recreation Therapist, Shelley Moulton. “But this music and memory program has taken it one step further.”
Terry Horton has volunteered many hours into the organization with this program. First, Horton makes it a priority to meet with and get to know the seniors participating in this program.
The hardest step is getting an understanding of what music an individual listened to while growing up. Sometimes this is more difficult to get a grasp on as some seniors possess mental illnesses that affect memory. However, after a few conversations, Horton is able to find a sense of their musical taste.
In the first or second interview, Horton brings her Iphone with her to test out different kinds of music. With a sense of the era, she can start playing a variety of music, which she thinks will spark nostalgia.
“It’s really cool to do that, especially with people of this age, especially the older ones in their 80’s or 90’s. They’re not used to having that kind of technology at their fingertips,” said Horton.
“I get to have the experience of sitting with someone who’s hearing something that they haven’t heard in years,” said Horton. “And especially if we can hit on older music, music from when they were young or even children; it’s really, really cool.”
Often times, several playlists will be made in order to match the upbeat and lively, or silent and solemn mood of the individual on that particular day.
Currently there are 15 people enrolled with personal Ipods.
“…I think, eventually, [it] would be fantastic if we had every senior living in this complex, able to have their own personalized music,” said Moulton.
This therapy through music is happening all around the world. Co-founder and CEO of the Arts Health Institute in Australia, Maggie Haertsch believes that music should be considered a basic human right. In a documentary she stated, “If we’re able to access music when we’re growing up through the generations, why is it we can’t get music when it’s needed the most?”
Volunteers are always needed at Rocky Mountain Village in order to expand a variety of their programs. Anyone interested in taking part can contact Shelley Moulton through RMV at rmvrec@glm.ca or call 250-423-4214.