Music & Memory Program
Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center and Retirement Home was among 100 nursing homes in 2013 in the state of Wisconsin that was chosen to be certified to take part in a new project that uses personalized music to assist residents with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. By listening to their favorite songs, residents are able to recall memories that haven’t been lost to their disease.
Jessica Byom and Linda Fabry are the two certified music and memory specialists at Rolling Hills. They are pictured with all the equipment that they received through a state grant and are excited to implement this wonderful activity for our residents with dementia at Rolling Hills.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services staff established the Wisconsin Music & Memory Program in 2013. This program trains, certifies and supports staff in the program as part of the DHS effort to improve the care of residents with dementia and decrease the use of medications. The Wisconsin Music & Memory Program has successfully funded over 300 nursing homes to become certified MUSIC & MEMORY(SM) facilities and provide equipment for over 3,500 nursing home residents through the MUSIC & MEMORY(SM) Certification Program.
Potential Impact at Nursing Homes and Assisted Living
- Improved quality of life for the person with dementia
- Reduction of antipsychotic and anti-anxiety medications (link is external)
- Reduction in pain medications
- Reduction in falls due to the reduction in antipsychotic medications
- Reduction in bed and chair alarms
- Increased staff retention due to improved morale and decreased burden
- Decreased staffing costs due to decrease in behaviors, medications, alarms, etc.
- Increased family engagement
- Decrease in regulatory noncompliance in the area of responding to resident behaviors
- Decreased worker’s compensation due to decrease in behaviors
- Decreased liability due to decrease in behaviors
- Increased census and financial stability due to all of the above.
(Source: Wisconsin DHS)
To learn more about this great program, visit Music and Memory of Wisconsin and MusicAndMemory.org
