Musical Memories
Musical Memories is an innovative story book for children and their families. It is designed to introduce the reader to Alzheimer's Disease and the profound effect that individualized music can have on those suffering from this debilitating illness.
Musical Memories takes a unique approach to helping children understand Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, books available for children on this subject take a very simplistic approach, focusing on the problem of short-term memory loss. Alzheimer’s disease is far more complex than that. There was a need for a book to help children understand other aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. Musical Memories fills that need in that it reflects the current knowledge and understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, going beyond the issue of short-term memory loss to address dysfunctional behaviors, such as anxiety and agitation.
While this book is at an 8 – 10 year old reading level, it is much farther reaching than that. This book is designed for families. Parents, while reading to, or with, their children, can benefit from the story as well, as it models ways that music can be used to unveil personhood, promote communication, elicit positive memories, and reduce anxiety.
Musical Memories makes an important contribution to the understanding of children and their family members about Alzheimer’s disease. It beautifully illustrates factors that may increase confusion, such as fatigue and large crowds, and artfully shows the power of music to stimulate pleasant memories and reminiscences, as well as to provide a diversion that may calm agitation.”
KATHLEEN C. BUCKWALTER, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor Emerita, University of Iowa College of Nursing
Distinguished Professor of Aging Research, D.W. Reynolds Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence,
College of Nursing, University of Oklahoma Healath Sciences Center
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Music offers a means of enhancing communication and relationships between grandparents and grandchildren, even in the presence of cognitive decline related to Alzheimer’s disease. Linda Gerdner’s Musical Memories provides a valuable resource for families facing the challenge of intergenerational communication in the context of late life cognitive decline, and for health professionals working in this area. It is written by one of the world’s leading experts on the use of music as a therapeutic tool in the context of dementia and other syndromes that can affect older adults. Many health professionals and families touched by cognitive decline will find this publication both enjoyable and extremely useful.”
DAVID AMES, MD
Professor Emeritus University of Melbourne Australia Former editor of International Psychogeriatrics
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