Positive response to 'Alive Inside' documentary
Recently, the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7), Shawnee State University, and Hill View Retirement Center in Portsmouth partnered together for a special showing of Alive Inside, an award-winning documentary that explores the healing power of music for people with dementia.
The documentary, which was featured locally at the Flohr Lecture Hall on the campus of Shawnee State University, is by Michael Rossato-Bennett and explores the power that music can have to revitalize individuals through the experience of listening to music. The film follows Dan Cohen, the founder and executive director of Music & MemorySM, a program which uses custom playlists on digital music players to reconnect people with dementia to the world around them. The film won the 2014 Sundance Audience Award.
Music & MemorySM is an example of the type of person-centered innovation that Ohio is embracing, and its principles and practices hold tremendous potential for older Ohioans and their caregivers. Community involvement is crucial and volunteers can offer much help in terms of donating equipment and sharing their time enjoying music with nursing home residents.
The Ohio Department of Aging and the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman are helping nursing homes across the state become certified to offer Music & MemorySM to their residents. Locally, the AAA7 Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is the contact for this exciting venture.
“Music and Memory is a person-centered approach to dementia care and offers numerous benefits including reduced use of anti-psychotics and improved resident and staff satisfaction,” said Kaye Inoshita, RN, Director of the Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at the AAA7. “It is one tool in the person-centered care toolbox, and the AAA7 Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is excited to work with our local nursing homes on this important project!”
Following the local showing, a panel discussion took place featuring Jamie Daniels, RN, Staff Ombudsman with the Area Agency on Aging District 7; Maggie Selby, MS, RN, Assistant Professor at Shawnee State University; Dr. Christine Raber, Professor in the Master of Occupational Therapy Program at Shawnee State University; and Ginny Pinson, BSN, MPH, Assistant Professor at Shawnee State University. Panelists engaged in dialogue with the audience about the importance of the film and the positive effects music can have on health and healing.
In addition, the Shawnee State University Occupational Therapy program hosted an iPod drive in conjunction with the screening. For more information about donating, please contact Dr. Christine Raber at Shawnee State University at (740) 351-3530 or craber@shawnee.edu.
To learn more about Music & MemorySM in Ohio, log on to www.aging.ohio.gov/services/music-memory. Or, you can contact the AAA7 Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Department at 1-800-582-7277 or info@aaa7.org.
Your local Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. provides services on a non-discriminatory basis. These services are available to help older adults and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes through services paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, other federal and state resources, as well as private pay. The AAA7’s Resource Center is also available to anyone in the community looking for information or assistance with long-term care options. Available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm, the Resource Center is a valuable contact for learning more about options and what programs and services are available for assistance.
Those interested in learning more can call toll-free at 1-800-582-7277 (TTY: 711). Here, individuals can speak directly with a nurse or social worker who will assist them with information surrounding the programs and services that are available to best serve their needs. The Agency also offers an in-home assessment at no cost for those who are interested in learning more. Information is also available on www.aaa7.org, or the Agency can be contacted through e-mail at info@aaa7.org. The Agency also has a Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/AreaAgencyOnAgingDistrict7.