The “Music Man” of COVID-19

By Stephanie Wierzbicka, Manager, Strategic Health Programs at ComForCare

Steve picks up his guitar and plays tunes he’s perfected over the years. Old songs, big hits, singalongs. It started as a weekly event on Tuesdays to add some cheer and stir up wonderful memories using Facebook Live. It’s part of Steve’s quest to connect with seniors and those living with dementia through music and conversation.

This weekly Tuesday series has since turned into a daily concert with the advent of COVID-19. After more than 60 concerts throughout COVID-19, the music keeps right on playing. “The more people must shelter-in-place, the more the music must go on,” he says. For seniors who are at a higher risk of loneliness, music can be an impactful antidote.

I recently talked to Steve about the power of music to form true connections in a time when we are asked to stay apart, as well as tips for caring for a loved one with dementia.

Tell us about your background and how you came to work in music and with people who have dementia.

My mother was a piano teacher and my father was an opera singer. My mother taught me how to play the piano when I was four years old. That didn’t take well, but I discovered I had musical talents. I went on to play violin, but when I was 13 I decided to teach myself how to play guitar. That led to playing in bands in clubs and I did that for a long time to make a living.

I grew up listening to songs in the Great American Songbook and worked with big bands. Band members encouraged me to go into nursing homes to play these songs. I started working with people with dementia. I could see that while they were not really verbal, they could sing songs perfectly and they would associate the songs to certain times in their life. This motivated me to learn about dementia and receive my dementia care specialist certification program from the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

My wife and I started a company called Prescription Music where we created CDs and did musical programs in long-term care facilities. I met someone from ComForCare and they offered me a position to create the “Joyful Memories” music program. We have implemented it across more than 200 locations with great success for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Why is music important to caring for someone with dementia?

Music by nature is powerful and therapeutic. It promotes a feeling of safety because of the unity when we sing and listen to music together. While working with people with dementia, I saw that they are often still able to tap a beat or sing lyrics to a song from childhood, even if verbal communication is difficult. Those long-term memories stay. So playing those songs creates a moment of connection. It has also shown it can reduce agitation and improve behavioral issues.

Tell us about Tune-in Tuesdays and how it has evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic?

We started Tune-in Tuesdays so we can come into someone’s home, share some songs and conversation and have a nice visit through Facebook Live. When COVID-19 hit and we were all asked to shelter-in-place, this became even more important. So I started getting on Facebook daily and spreading the word to caregivers and care facilities, and the response has been really positive. We want to focus on engagement, connection, and staying well. Music helps us look at the things that are important — being kind to one another, peacefulness, gentleness and feeling safe.

What are some good tips for family members caring for a loved one with dementia?

I recommend going back to the basics; pull out pictures, talk about recipes, focus on things the person likes, whether it’s music, movies, instruments or certain games. Any activity that engages their memory and creates a connection is key.

It’s so important for anyone to feel safe, but when you have dementia, your orientation has changed. People with dementia are much more easily startled. Their vision field is lessened, so loud noises really make a difference. It’s about being kind, being open, being real, being authentic. It’s about having a smile on your face, modulation of voice, making eye contact. All of that is so critical to creating the type of connection to provide the highest level of care.

Tune-in Tuesdays with Steve Toll airs Monday through Friday at 1pm EST on ComForCare’s Facebook page.

ComForCare and At Your Side will be offering a virtual event for professionals (Registered Nurses and Social Workers are highly encouraged to attend) called “Creating Better Days for People with Dementia,” on June 25 at 1pm. Sign up here: https://www.facebook.com/events/859989317843738/