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Transforming Dementia Care Through Music
Combining Education, Music Engagement, and a New Perspective on the dementia diagnosis to transform memory care.
Our Vision
We envision a world where moments of joy, remembrance, and connection are ordinary for care partners through the power of music.
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So why is music the tool that can transform dementia care?
The Power of Music in Dementia
Music Fosters Communication
Emotional Memories are encoded rhythmically in the brain and that is one of the only skills preserved throughout dementia.
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So that means even when cognition language and motor skills decline, we will always have the ability to tap into these memories.
The symptoms of dementia oftentimes serve as a barrier between a loved one and their caregivers.
Music is a universal language, and in this case, a language that doesn’t necessarily need words to create a feeling of understanding and connection.
We saw the power music has in dementia firsthand. We just needed an accessible tool to remove the barriers to music engagement. So we thought...
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How Can We Make Music Engagement Accessible to Dementia Communities?
Barriers to Using Music
The Solution: Memory Discos
Reduced attention span, auditory needs, and accessibility to music creates a barrier to maximizing the power music can have in this community.
But behind this barrier, our loved ones are still there, waiting for us to connect with them.
We just need the right medium.
Our headphones have individualized volume adjustments and allow participants to direct their available attention towards the music.
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The community aspect of silent disco technology allows us to use music as a communication tool.
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Our Volunteers
We wouldn't be able to spread moments of joy and connection through music without our volunteers.
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MUSICAL MEMORIES is the volunteer wing of the Day By Day Project that brings our mission to life! These amazing high school and college volunteer organizations help create accessible music engagement programs in local communities, including our Memory Discos.
Kaylie Glenn, B.S. in Neuroscience, is the President and Founder of the Day By Day Project. Since age 10, she has seen the power of music through her violin performances at memory care facilities. Working in collaboration with neurologists for 8 years, she developed a multi-sensory musical engagement program that has involved over 150 young volunteers across Ohio. Using these experience she pioneered the Memory Disco, becoming the first in America to repurpose silent discos for dementia care. She envisions a world where accessible music engagement tools are commonplace in dementia care.
Meet the Team
Anish Ganesh, B.S. in Neuroscience, is the Vice President of the Day By Day Project. Anish's decade-long journey with playing music found a new purpose towards the later years of his grandmother’s life. Using music as a tool for nonverbal communication, Anish experienced the value music can have in building connection. Since 2019, Anish has worked on NIH funded Alzheimer’s research. Transforming the Day By Day Project from a volunteer organization into a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Anish looks to spearhead systems of quality of life improvement practices across all settings of elder care.
