had a few people recommending this one is worth a look
documentary - america - people with alzheimers and now ipods
the revelation that music somehow makes sufferers more contented
sounds interesting - off we go on a sunday morning - the theatre packed
wondering then what is the attraction - possilbly an aged welfare concern
dan cohen is the man - ex i.t. professional and now working in welfare
the opening scene showing dan handing an ipod to 94 year old brian
african american largely incoherent until he hears louis armstrong
when the saints go marching in - takes him back to his childhood
great scene actually as we see his face and eyes light up big time
a real feel-good moment as the sweet old man starts jigging
not been that way for years so proof it has to be the music
and so it goes from there - no shortage of people to cheer up
some very sad cases of people in institutions needing a lift
not just alzheimer sufferers - ms and schizophrenia also
dan the man seen visiting patients and donating ipods
without fail there's an immediate change in mood
i'm a bit staggered by it all really - such a simple joy
where have the family and friends been all these years
surely if it is known a person is/was into music then deliver
crikey - if (when) that is me - mandatory equipment day one
the film then spends some time trying to account for the lack of ipods
one hospital-based practitioner saying he can dispense endless drugs
sometimes costing thousands of dollars a hit - but a $40 ipod - nope
he cynically suggesting there is no money in that - that would be it
experts are consulted and some impressive footage to back the case
e.g. multiplying cells have a beat in tune with the beat of music
so humans are hard-wired from conception to be rhythmical
bobby mcferrin seen at a conference demonstrating the groove
footage of a masai tribe in africa doing their jump dance thing
and then an african in a hospital playing a 10 string mini kora
point being - ancient cultures are wired for music so why not us?
me thinking - it's like white america has only just discovered music
another 'expert' saying he has spent 30 years coming up with therapies
all replaced in an instant when music was played to alzheimer patients
hello - you must be joking - it's a no-brainer (oops) surely isn't it?
but it's not all the carers fault - one very lucid ms sufferer also
bed-ridden for 10 years - always had a huge music collection
8 years after diagnosis and he finally gets some musical relief
again - did he not ask - did no-one offer - i don't get it at all
the cynicysm sensor now starting to register some action
seems dan is president and owner of musicformemory.org
they set about lobbying the goverment for some serious funding
an ambitious plan to get ipods into america's aged care network
some minor success - though statistically speaking 0.16%
the money it is not a-flowing - but - there's another way
footage of brian at the start of the film goes viral on youtube
millions of hits and then dan scanning messages of gratitude
seems people have got the idea and impressed with the results
though not in the controlled manner dan was gunning for
a happy ending though to this interesting documentary
check out dan's website - www.musicformemory.org
or just do it yourself - benevolence starts at home...
