Our Terms & Conditions | Our Privacy Policy
-
(Photo courtesy of the Day by Day Project)
An older adult with dementia and a caregiver share a moment of connection through music using the Memory Disco music program.
(Photo courtesy of the Day by Day Project)
An older adult with dementia and a caregiver share a moment of connection through music using the Memory Disco music program.
A new program is helping individuals living with dementia reconnect through music.
The Day by Day Memory Disco Project, now active in multiple Southeast Ohio counties, uses silent disco technology to create meaningful, engaging experiences for individuals with memory loss, along with the caregivers who support them.
The program originally started as a passion project for two Ohio State University neuroscience students around 2023. It has now reached more than 20,000 individuals and is active in over 40 senior care facilities across Ohio. The program blends group headphone technology with neuroscience-informed playlists designed to spark memory, improve mood and create connection. Participants wear wireless headphones that stream familiar music in a controlled environment specific to each person’s needs.
Ken Stewart, an extension educator for OSU in Monroe County, has helped lead implementation efforts in southeast Ohio. With a background in long-term care and the Alzheimer’s Association, Stewart said the impact of the program is immediate and deeply moving.
“You put the headphones on, and people just light up,” Stewart said. “They smile, sing, dance, and it brings them into the moment in a way that’s hard to describe until you see it for yourself.”
During a home session, a husband who was largely non-verbal recognized and started singing along to the song that he and his wife danced to at their wedding many years ago. In a hospice facility, the program has also been used to help ease pain without the need for heavy medication.
The program’s effectiveness is backed by research. A 2023 OSU Extension-led study across 18 facilities found that 90% of care staff observed improved mood in residents during Memory Disco sessions, and 95% reported better behavior lasting four to six hours afterward. It’s not just beneficial for the listeners themselves, but also the caregivers and attendants at these facilities. More than 80% of participating caregivers reported increased workplace satisfaction, and over 70% said they felt more confident in managing behavioral challenges.
Darlene Hambel, care management coordinator, organizes the program through Buckeye Hills Regional Council. Hambel said those moments of joy and recognition are often just as powerful for caregivers as they are for participants.
“What I like about the Memory Disco is that it gives people a moment of joy,” Hambel said. “And it gives caregivers a moment of peace or at least connection.”
She acknowledged that some people are hesitant to try the kits, concerned that the technology might be too complicated or intimidating.
“They think it’s going to be complicated or high-tech, but we keep it pretty simple,” Hambel said. “If you can work a CD player, then you can use this.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6.7 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s in 2023, a number that’s expected to rise to 8.5 million by 2030. As demand for care rises, tools like the Memory Disco offer a cost-effective way to enhance the quality of life and caregiver well-being in both home and facility settings, according to a release from Buckeye Hills.
Locally, residents can borrow Memory Disco kits from Buckeye Hills Regional Council or public libraries in Monroe and Noble counties. Kits include wireless headphones, transmitters, maracas, curated playlists for activities like personal care and calming routines, and simple user guides. Loans are typically available for two weeks and are free of charge, with a refundable deposit if required. Additional time may be given depending on the circumstances.
“This isn’t a cure, but it is a connection,” Stewart said. “It’s a chance to bring someone back into the moment. To see them smile again. To remind them, and ourselves, of who they are.”
For more information on borrowing a kit or bringing the program to a local care facility, contact Buckeye Hills Regional Council at 1-800-331-2644 or your nearest participating library.
The following applications for marriages have been filed at the Washington County Courthouse:
— Isabelle Nicole …
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has released the following reports:
— Michael Lee Spires, 71, 11 Miller Lane, …
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.
Aggregated From –
Comments are closed.