Music Therapy Brings Dementia Patients “Back to Life”

This is not a cure but we are increasing patients’ level of engagement . . .the program is currently being used in 50 nursing homes in 15 states and Canada.

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If you’d like to contribute to providing personalized music for elders in care facilities or support the training of family caregivers go to: http://musicandmemory.org/

The Story of Gil and Denise

In this excerpt from the forthcoming documentary, Alive Inside: The Story of Music and Memory, two individuals with cognitive challenges transcend their daily struggles as they listen to personalize music, with help from Music and Memory’s Dan Cohen.

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Having the Conversation: A Heart to Heart with Aging Parents

We hear time and time again from professionals that family conversations are best when they happen sooner rather than later. The more involved your aging parents can be in the conversations, the better. Try not to wait until there is declining health or a crisis of some kind. The fact is, if you, as the adult child have these conversations on your mind… your parents do too. And, not moving forward just puts more stress on everyone.


Click here to read Having the Conversation: A Heart to Heart with Aging Parents.

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The Parent Care Conversation

One of the hardest things for aging parents and their adult children to do is sit down and have a frank discussion about the future. Such conversations are difficult for two principal reasons: they involve acknowledging the realities of aging and mortality, and financial details must be shared. But putting off these conversations until it's too late can have catastrophic consequences, both financial and emotional.

Click here for a summary of The Parent Care Conversation: Six strategies for Transforming the Emotional and Financial Future of Your Aging parents by Dan Taylor.

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Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most

The book below was written nearly 15 years ago! It is Difficult Conversations by Stone, Patton, and Heen. Please take a look at the nice summary I found. I think you will find it timely and priceless!

This book, based on fifteen years of research at the Harvard Negotiation Project, walks you through a proven step-by-step approach for how to have better and less stressful outcomes from your most difficult conversations. It shows you how to prepare yourself; how to start the conversation without defensiveness; and how to keep it constructive and focused.

Click here to read about it.