~ Wellness Arts program to explore the power of music on residents suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias ~
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra is teaming up with Salem Terrace at Harrogate as part of a music therapy program for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Slated for eight performances, the Wellness Arts program will begin at Salem Terrace on Friday, April 6.
A trained ensemble of professional musicians from the Roanoke Symphony will provide residents with music-therapy informed sessions to address their physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs through music. The specialized program focuses on music familiar to the residents, such as a classical waltz or church hymns they may have heard hundreds of times as a child.
Research has proven that Alzheimer’s disease does not destroy our ability to associate a song with our lasting memory of an event. Our emotions are strongly linked to our memories of specific sounds and types of music. Having these memory care patients get involved, whether by singing or playing their instruments along with the orchestra, they’re able to stimulate more areas in their brain.
“We are excited to share the power of music and its ability to impact our health through this Wellness Arts program,” said David Crane, Executive Director of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. “Through this program, we are truly able to make an impact on someone’s life on a wellness level.”
The program came to fruition after more than a year from the early planning stages by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra until the first performance in the spring of 2017 at Friendship Health and Living Community, the management group for Salem Terrace.
-Submitted by Danna Owen, Marketing Director
