Years back, I was the Director of Nursing at a large Alzheimer’s Unit in Washington State. It was a very demanding, but yet very gratifying job. We had just admitted a lady with end-stage Alzheimer’s as well as many other serious medical problems.
She was not eating well, so I took it upon myself to sit with her during meals in the Dining Room to encourage her to eat. Music was an important part of our day in the Building…depending on the time of day, different types, rhythms, and tempos were played. Music Therapy can be used to help calm, motivate, and engage those lost to this Disease process known as Alzheimer’s. Lunch was over, everyone had left the Dining Room ,except this lady and me. I went over to the CD Player and selected an instrumental CD of Celtic harp music. As the music filled the empty space, she suddenly looked, pointed and smiled. I asked her what she was looking at…she asked me if I couldn’t see the angels playing the beautiful music?? Oh, I wish I could have, but from the look on her face it was a wonderful performance…she died a day later… and I can only imagine with those same angels welcoming her home with heavenly music.
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