Songs from their era are well received in dementia facilities.

I once spent a day Christmas caroling at a number of long-term and memory facilities in my city. The things I experienced that day, and the people who were “non responsive” who became responsive to sing and say “Merry Christmas” are gifts I will treasure for the rest of my life. One woman held a baby doll and, as we sang, she handed me her “child” and I sang to her as if she were my own. Just a beautiful, beautiful day.

For his entire life he loved music and more as he got older and lost his eyesight from macular degeneration. The music enriched his days and nights. I'm so happy to read music made that connection for you!

plays the piano beautifully, and for many years volunteered her time playing old songs for the residents of nursing homes. She brought them so much joy, you could just see it on their faces.

This is great! Music is truly the universal language! One of the most moving experiences I’ve ever had was when I was visiting a memory care unit and turned on Tony Bennet’s “Stranger in Paradise.” Oh! Their faces were so beautiful, so suddenly alive and filled with recognition of reality! It was one of the most beautiful, moving things I’ve ever seen and brought me to tears unexpectedly. So keep singing! You never realize what parts of their hearts you may be touching. Life is fleeting and so is cognition, but it can be beautiful, so beautiful!