MURFREESBORO – Northside Health Care Nursing & Rehabilitation Center was one of seven nursing homes statewide to win a grant to implement the Music & Memory Certification Program.

Awarded by the Tennessee Health Care Education Foundation the grant will fund training for caregivers to use music as a way to engage residents with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other cognitive impairments, said Kimberly Honeycutt, activities director at the Murfreesboro nursing home.

“This offers the residents, especially those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, a new way to communicate through music,” Honeycutt said.

The grant, which was awarded to nursing homes in Johnson City, Oneida, Morrsitown, Soddy Daisy, Jackson and Barlett, as well as Murfreesboro, covers the cost of training and equipment to implement the Music & Memory program, said, Jesse Samples, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Association.

“The training, which is provided by Music & Memory, will certify them to be able to offer the Music & Memory program,” Samples said.

The training consists of a four-and-a-half hour webinar and training session in Nashville.

“The equipment that will be purchased includes iPods, headphones and iTunes cards,” Samples said.

Honeycutt said the grant will allow the Northside staff to train and use up to 10 iPods.

Honeycutt applied for the grant after reading about the Music & Memory program and bringing in her own iPod and headset to try on a resident, she said.

“She came to life,” Honeycutt said.

The normally unresponsive Alzheimer’s patient sang along to the music and became engaged in the song, Honeycutt said.

In addition to stimulating memory and reducing agitation, providing personalized music also provides entertainment and enjoyment for residents, she said.

“The program improves quality of life for the nursing home’s residents,” Samples said.

Many studies have documented the positive impact of individualized music on depression, anxiety, agitation, pain, and insomnia.

“Music is proven to be therapeutic in many areas and has shown benefits to nursing home residents. Music therapy is relaxing and enjoyable and relieves some level of anxiety and depression,” Samples said.

In his book “Musicophilia,” Dr. Oliver Sacks said “music can animate people with Parkinson’s disease who cannot otherwise move, give words to stroke residents who cannot otherwise speak, and calm and organize people whose memories are ravaged by Alzheimer’s or amnesia.”

In addition to Northside, both AdamsPlace and Creekside at Three Rivers in Murfreesboro use the Music & Memory program.

By: Michelle Willard, @MichWillard.