Commun ty Matters Fort Scott Presbyterian Village
COMING UP IN COMMUNITY MATTERS:
Everyone has a story to tell
Christmas will be here before we know it, and we’ll be talking about celebrations and traditions in an upcoming issue of Community Matters as we celebrate the holidays. Does your family have a special tradition? Is there a song that immediately conjures up memories of Christmases past? Do you have a memorable Christmas story to share? Contact Ginger Nance and your story may be selected to appear in an upcoming Community Matters.
October 2015
Music can change your day
Music has been around for ages. All cultures, religions and nations have some form of native song, music or instrument that is part of their tradition. Music is popular because of the soothing effect it has on people. Listening to soft music and enjoying it can help to alter a person’s mood and bring a certain contentment, joy and happiness in them. This can be very useful in helping to lift our spirits at times when we are feeling down, Ashlee Mitchell, CMA, is a music disappointed or depressed. enthusiast. Music also can help in reducing stress by helping our muscles to relax while we listen to a relaxing beat or tempo. While doing so, relaxing music slows our heart and breathing rate. It also stimulates the production of the hormone serotonin that makes us feel happy and improves our mood.
Music has shown to also elevate our moods by altering our brain waves. Fast, motivational music can be useful in getting our adrenaline pumping so that we will be motivated during exercise or work. When thinking about applying music in intentional ways at Presbyterian Village there are a variety of things we will implement in October to see the benefits of music first hand. Staff member Ashlee Mitchell, CMA, has worked 16 years in healthcare and has seen music work at other health care campuses. She notes the dramatic positive effects it has on the seniors which she has served. “You can really tell a difference in how people act on the days when the music didn’t play in the dining room! People were kinder, more patient, complimentary of the food and in overall good cheer on the days we played music during lunch,” notes Ashlee. Research supports that during the dining experience, soft background
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