“Alive Inside” Program Arriving At Area Nursing Homes

Hancock, Michigan—The Alive Inside program, funded through partnership with the Keweenaw Community Foundation and Portage Health Foundation, brings personalized music to residents of area nursing homes through the technology of iPods, headsets, and iTunes. Through listening to playlists, caregivers are able to provide their patients who suffer from cognitive and physical challenges such as memory loss, depression, pain, or isolation with a variety of music designed to bring joy, comfort, and renewed meaning to patient lives. By listening to music, individuals are able to access deep memories, which can help them feel like themselves again.

The local effort is part of an international project called “Music and Memory” that trains and outfits long-term care facilities with the necessary expertise, equipment, and support. The Houghton County Medical Care Facility in Hancock was the first local institution to become certified with the Music and Memory organization, and as of mid-November, over one hundred residents have been outfitted with their iPods and headsets.  According to Tammi Lehto, Administrator of the Houghton County Medical Care Facility, there has already been an appreciable decrease in the request for medications by those residents.

Cypress Manor’s Alive Inside webinar training took place at the Portage Lake District Library in June. The staff, led by Jenna DeLisle, is currently busy downloading music onto a computer that is serving as their music library and putting individualized playlists onto the iPods, which arrived on Nov. 30.  Carolyn C. Peterson, community volunteer, has been working with a group of residents there to identify the specific music each person wants to be able to access. “I have been impressed by the variety of taste in music and the willingness to speak one’s preferences,” Peterson said. “The residents are definitely enjoying the process!  They have also expressed gratitude for this program, which is available to all residents at no cost.”

Additionally, Gardenview Nursing Home in Calumet became certified with the Music and Memory program in November. Portage Pointe in Hancock is scheduled to have a webinar training in mid-January, which will be facilitated by staff member Patty Hill. Our Lady of Mercy in Hubbell is also interested in hosting the Alive Inside program in the future.

For more information on Alive Inside, please contact Carolyn C. Peterson at ccpeter650@hotmail.com. For more information on the international Music and Memory project, please visit its website at musicandmemory.org.

Through philanthropic services, strategic investments and community leadership, Keweenaw Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come. For more information on Keweenaw Community Foundation and how to give, visit its website at www.k-c-f.org.