Commun ty Matters Salina Presbyterian Manor
Reflections on my ‘little’ grandma By Mary Bridges, Salina Presbyterian Manor chaplain
Growing up, I always felt a little cheated. I only had one grandparent, my father’s mom, whom I was named after. She was very short, probably just five feet tall. My nieces and nephews, who had an abundance of grandparents, nicknamed her “little” grandma. She came to the United States with the Germans from Russia when she was 16. Her first job was as a maid at a hotel. She did not have an easy life. She had a very large family with 15 children. My grandfather, who died before I was born, was an alcoholic. Her oldest son died when he was just 20, and several other children died when they were very young. While she could speak English, she could neither read nor write it. I would always read her letters that came from our family in California, and then she would tell me what she wanted to write, and I would write the letters for her. Imagine. I had my first secretarial job when I was still in elementary school. CHAPLAIN, continued on page 2
September 2015
Music & Memory
Powerful project coming to Presbyterian Manors In the documentary film “Alive Inside,” headphones are placed on a woman with dementia, who hasn’t opened her eyes or communicated in two years. Within moments of hearing a favorite old song, she is moving to the music under her bedcovers. The subject of the film is Dan Cohen, founder of the nonprofit organization Music & Memory, which promotes the use of digital music players with individualized playlists to improve the quality of life for elders (watch it online at aliveinside.us). Aging can erase a person’s identity, Cohen says in the film, but music can help restore that sense of self. Now, employees at several Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America communities are becoming certified in the Music & Memory program, including RaShelle Hensley, social services director for Salina Presbyterian Manor. Among other benefits, Hensley hopes the music therapy may reduce the need for antipsychotic medications in some residents. “Music can really affect that. Music affects different parts of the brain, and that can stimulate the parts that have been affected by dementia,” Hensley said. “The goal is to download music that has meaning to that person. It could be something they sang when their kids were little, or something from their wedding or a special occasion.” Her training included guidance on talking with residents and their family members to create personalized playlists. Salina Presbyterian Manor received 10 new and refurbished iPods and headphones to start the program. Hensley is seeking donations of more devices, plus iTunes gift cards to purchase songs online and load them onto the players. That’s the time-consuming part, so Hensley would welcome volunteers to help with that task. MUSIC, continued on page 3