iPods and dementia: low-tech connectedness

Donna Cusano

A grace note for your Thursday.  An article and video from yesterday’s The Wall Street Journal profiled the pioneering work a non-profit affiliate of the Beth Abraham Health System in New York City is doing with music therapy for stroke, dementia and Alzheimers patients.  Music has been proven to improve mood, cognition and memory recall, spark physical activity and increase connectedness with family and caregivers.  The latest initiative of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF) is to program iPods with music of a period or preference, at a moderate cost; they are also seeking donations of used iPods or mp3 players for those patients who cannot afford their own.  A worthy effort!  WSJ Article.  Video.   A personal commentary by Laurie Orlov on Age in Place Tech.  IMNF website.