Rhythm of Life: Engaging, Energizing and Empowering older adults living with dementia with Boomwhackers

Becky Watson, MBA, Board Certified Music Therapist during the Greater Richmond Virginia Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Education Conference.

Thank you Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Richmond for allowing me to close the wonderful education conference by facilitating “Rhythm of Life: Engaging, Energizing and Empowering through Boomwhackers” presentation for 200 care partners, health care professionals, friends and families.

This purpose of this interactive presentation was to demonstrate how to Engage, Energize and Empower people living with dementia while utilizing a Positive Approach™ to Care Philosophy developed by Teepa Snow http://www.teepasnow.com

The presentation began with an ENGAGING opening demonstration of playing boomwhackers, emphasizing starting, stopping, going faster, slower, louder and softer by visual cuing. Then each color played their rhythm together as a group, sharing their individual sound.

Next we were ENERGIZED by hearing and playing the Old Diesel Train Story, emphasizing the motion and momentum of the train until it reaches the next station. The attendees started, picked up momentum to reach top speed and then slowed down together to stop at their next station.

The attendees were EMPOWERED to play music together to create a beautiful rhythmic tune … it was so rhythmic that I accompanied them with my pocket flute and danced around the room. Such an empowering moment for everyone!!

Then we practiced a deep breathing technique by gently tapping our legs with our hands as we breath slower and deeper … gradually slowing down the breaths and exhaling slower and longer while a gentle melody was played a Native American Flute.
We closed with waving our boomwhackers as team, using our voices and singing “When You’re Smiling.” Closing reflections comments from the attendees included: “wow, so many ways to use music to enrich our health, I feel so relaxed, this was wonderful, and So Inspired.”

Thank you volunteers and staff for inviting me to share my passion of music to enrich the quality of life of your attendees. I’m honored to part of this amazing conference! #luvservingwithmusic Music For Wellness Music Therapy in Long Term Care HealthRHYTHMS Facilitators

Becky Watson is passionate about serving older adults, care partners and health care professionals with evidenced based Music Therapy programs and Music Wellness programs as the owner of Music for Wellness, LLC. After serving her country for over 25 years and achieving the rank of Navy Captain, Becky completed her Music Therapy degree at Loyola, New Orleans and completed a Music Therapy Internship at Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, VA.

More information may be found at: http://www.alz.org/grv
Greater Richmond Chapter’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

http://Music4Wellness.net Music for YOUR Wellness, Music for Wellness, LLC, 757-563-3488

email: info@music4wellness.net

For more information on Music Therapy, check out our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/MusicForYourWellness