Music and Memory Program
We are proud to announce that Totally Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is now Music & Memory certified!
The Music & Memory program provides personalized music playlists to our patients using an iPod shuffle and headphones. Music has been proven to vastly improve the quality of life and allows those living with cognitive and physical challenges to reconnect with the world through music-triggered memories.
Personalized music offers an enjoyable, fulfilling activity for when patients are in their rooms, patients that are on vents, or bed-bound. This program is a powerful therapeutic tool to help reduce agitation and confusion, increase cooperation and attention, and enhance engagement and socialization. Music is also linked to personal memories and can tap deep emotional recall. Favorite music or songs associated with important personal events can trigger memory of lyrics and the experience connected to the music. Music can enable the listener to focus on the present moment and regain a connection to others.
The set-up of the program includes learning what music each patient enjoys and communicating with the families and staff if needed. We receive the music from copyrighted CDs and from our facility iTunes account. We then create the patient’s playlist on iTunes, load it onto the iPod shuffle, and distribute to the patient. Our Music & Memory program is unique because each resident’s iPod is personalized to their own interests.
Our Acute Rehab patient, Serina was the first to experience our Music & Memory program. Before her motor vehicle accident, Serina enjoyed playing different music with her father at social events. Serina has experienced signs of pain, agitation, and depression. When Serina was first introduced to her iPod, her agitation and pain decreased and she was able to focus in the moment when connected to her music. She also had improved engagement, interaction, and spoke more frequently. After fifteen minutes of first listening to her personalized music, Serina was asked to write of what she thought about it. In one response, Serina wrote legibly “Good, I know the songs, Relaxed.” Serina’s iPod is available to her when requested and she is encouraged to listen to music for an hour per day. She is able to operate her iPod shuffle independently so that she may change the song or volume. Her music is especially beneficial when she is in her room, waiting in between therapies, and before sleep.
Our Music & Memory program will continue to grow at Totally Kids and will be available to our patients. Music is a strong therapy and we aim to make this form of personalized therapeutic music a standard of care.
—
Article Written by Courtney
