[pullquote quote="I'm crazy about music...it gives me the feeling of love!" credit="Henry"]The power of music is astounding. It’s what animates us and makes us feel alive. The upcoming documentary, Alive Inside follows the positive effects music has on patients with Alzheimer’s. Dr. Oliver Sacks, a neurologist author stated, “…This maybe very very important in helping to animate, organize, and bring a sense of identity back to the people who are out of it…music would bring them back into it, into their own person-hood, their own memories, their own autobiographies.” The use of radio and iPods have helped patients come alive by listening to their favorite music that brings them back to happy memories from their past.

Henry is dealing with Alzheimer’s and has been in this nursing home for over a decade and he’s been unresponsive for the past two years. His daughter recalls growing up with him, stating he was fun, loving, always singing and always encouraged his children to join him when he would bust out dance moves from the movie, Singing In The Rain on walks.

Today, when his daughter walks into the room he does not remember her name, but when his earphones are placed over his ears and the technician presses play, suddenly Henry is restored back to the man he used to be.

He changes from unresponsive and unalive to animated and singing. In a split second, he is taken back to his favorite era of music, his favorite singer being Cab Calloway. Henry is responsive when asked about his favorite song, he begins to sing it. He exclaimed, “I’m crazy about music…it gives me the feeling of love!” With the help of family and friends, the staff does an excellent job in hand selecting songs for the patients to enjoy and look forward too.

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