How are our wonderful older adults living with dementia staying healthy during flu season?? We are keeping our personal hygiene, heart and mind healthy through engaging, empowering and energizing music therapy sessions.
We began our session with a deep breathing wellness exercise to allow more oxygen to get to our brain and to calm our heart rate. Then we shook it up with Shaker Bloxes made by Interactive Rhythm to a lively hello song while creatively moving to “Shake What You’ve Got.” We moved, grooved, shook, stomped, stacked and tapped our Shaker Bloxes in various rhythm, tempo and emphasizing stopping together.
Then we discussed ways of staying healthy and stopping the spread of germs through good hand washing practices. We also discussed getting plenty of rest, eating a healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits, exercise and movement,solving puzzles, singing music and reading.
We then solved a lyric completion puzzle to the song “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” by giving each individual a word to use in the song. We then sang together and discussed ways the Lord has been guiding us and leading us on.
Then Suzuki tone chimes were introduced and the senior champions played the songs “Amazing Grace” and “Blessed Assurance.” We closed by singing the songs and conducting a Wellness exercise. Reflective comments included: “blessed, awesome, calm, wonderful, energized, healthy, alive and grateful, Becky, your smile, joy and love are contagious, we love how you make us feel.”
This music making experience bring and meaningful, purposeful and creative activity for everyone! It’s a great way to reinforce positive hygiene practices to stay vibrant and healthy in 2017. #luvservingwithmusic
