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Blog
Forgetting Can Be a Good Thing
New research tells us that forgetting is good for us.
Christmas Carol Lyrics
We’ve put together five pages of easy-to-read Christmas carol lyrics to help you and your family experience the joy of connecting with each other as you sing together.
Caregiver Story: My Aunt Sue and Uncle Dale
I will always remember how my aunt Sue’s face lit up when she heard the sound of my uncle Dale’s voice.
Loving and Laughing – An Alzheimer’s Caregiver Story
While caring for her husband who had Alzheimer’s, Polly Burns learned to cherish moments of love and laughter along the way.
Singalongs Are a Pocket of Joy for People With Alzheimer’s
Article from The Dallas Morning News, originally titled “Songs & Smiles’ singalongs are a pocket of joy for people with Alzheimer’s.”
Things Not Included in Our Dementia-Friendly Magazine
Certain elements might be okay in typical magazines, but they simply get in the way when you’re designing a dementia-friendly magazine.
Why We Created a Dementia-Friendly Magazine
With every page of every issue, we’re working to create new opportunities for families to experience new moments of joy and connection.
Singalong Songs From Mary Poppins
Sing along with “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”
Handyman – A Caregiver Story
Family and friends need to get involved. Sometimes that just means being around, seeing what needs to be done, and doing what you can to ease the burden … if even only for a moment.
Balancing Act – A Caregiver Story
A loving daughter shares about caring for her parents who are both living with dementia.
Holiday Activities to Enjoy With Someone Who Has Alzheimer’s
Fun, practical, family-friendly holiday activities with someone who has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
Christmas Singalong Songs
If you love someone living with dementia, learn their favorite Christmas songs. Then spend time singing together.
Why Bother Visiting? – A Caregiver Story
A woman encourages her mother to keep visiting her husband living with dementia, even after he seems unable to recognize her.
7 Tips for Celebrating Holidays During the Alzheimer’s Journey
Holiday celebrations help keep your family connected. Treasure new memories. Feel the love. Cherish each moment of joy.
Ambiguous Loss and Dementia
Dementia creates ambiguous loss. Your loved one is here, but not here. It’s confusing. There’s no timetable, so no sense of closure.
Safe With Us: A Caregiver Story
Kim Foster helps care for her mother-in-law, Alice, who is living with dementia. Reflecting on an especially challenging stretch during the pandemic, she says: “It was the toughest three months I’ve ever spent caring for someone. But it was completely worth it.”
Not-So-Obvious Dementia Care Tips
When caring for a loved one living with dementia, learn to look at things in a new way. It’s easy to overlook the little things, but those little things may make a big difference.
Handmade Cards and a Legacy of Love
Sending handmade cards and personal notes can help families stay connected during the Alzheimer’s journey.
Basic Info About Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of dementia, so sometimes people use one term to mean the other. It’s more accurate to refer to say “Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.”
Watching Musical Movies With a Loved One Living With Dementia
Tips for watching musical movies together, helping your family stay connected during the Alzheimer’s journey.
Book Review: “No Sad Songs” by Frank Morelli
Review of “No Sad Songs” by Frank Morelli, a young adult book that deals with the topic of a teenager caring for a loved one living with dementia.
Tips for Using Music When Visiting People Living With Dementia
Mary Sue Wilkinson, founder of Singing Heart to Heart, shares her 5 tips for how to include music when visiting a person living with dementia.
Books and DVDs Available Free to Dementia Caregivers
Select from a list of books and DVDs available to dementia caregivers.
Resources for Using Music in Dementia Care
Helpful resources for family and professional caregivers. Singalong videos, music activity ideas, and more.
Songs Sinatra Sang
Singalong show featuring five songs recorded by Frank Sinatra. Designed for sharing with people who have Alzheimer’s. Featuring singable keys and tempos, easy-to-read lyrics, and an on-screen singalong leader.
Why Music Matters
Music connects us with our memories and with each other. It’s an essential part of life, so it’s an essential part of dementia care.
Love Songs Singalong
Singalong show featuring 12 love songs. Designed for sharing with people who have Alzheimer’s. Featuring singable keys and tempos, easy-to-read lyrics, and an on-screen singalong leader.
Research About Music and Alzheimer’s
A growing amount of studies and research confirm the power of music in caring for people who have Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia.
Singalong Show: 12 Fun-to-Sing Songs
Singalong show designed for sharing with people who have Alzheimer’s, featuring singable keys and tempos, with easy-to-read lyrics.
Singalong Favorite: “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”
“Take Me Out to the Ball Game“ inspires joy-filled memories of watching and playing baseball.
4 Favorite Books for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
These nonfiction books resonate with me personally and are valuable for Alzheimer’s caregivers and anyone interested in dementia care.
Singalong Favorite: “Shine On, Harvest Moon”
“Shine On, Harvest Moon” is a fun and familiar love song, perfect for singing with people who have Alzheimer’s.
You Can Impact Lives
Will you please make a donation to Songs & Smiles? Together, we can bring joy to the Alzheimer’s journey.
Talking With Someone Who Has Alzheimer’s
Develop new habits for talking with someone who has Alzheimer’s. Learn to cherish each new conversation.
Our Corn-Shucking Trophy
A fun activity at a family party brings back joy-filled memories of a sunny summer afternoon.
When Words Fail
One simple smile can express love, kindness, approval, and encouragement. Smiles connect when words fail.
Learning to Face Alzheimer’s With Joy
As Trish used her teaching skills, she taught us it was okay to look for new ways of doing things.
Singalong Favorite: “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain”
“She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain” is a favorite singalong song for all ages.
Singalong Favorite: “Moon River”
An easy-to-sing melody and ties to Hollywood make “Moon River” a popular part of any singalong.
Keep Talking, Keep Listening
You may think someone who has Alzheimer’s has lost the ability to talk. But a certain word or song, or maybe a timely smile, might spark a beautiful new conversation.
Links to Resources for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
We’ve gathered a list of organizations providing resources for Alzheimer’s caregivers, along with a few direct links to helpful articles we found on each organization’s website.
Caregiver Well-Being Links
We’ve compiled some links to organizations supporting your well-being as a caregiver, along with a few direct links to helpful articles and resources provided on each organization’s website.
Facing Alzheimer’s With Songs, Smiles, and Joy
We’re inviting others to get involved with us, encouraging people to care for caregivers. We are thinking bigger, planning to positively impact people across the country and around the world. With your help, we encourage and support families navigating the challenges of caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s. Together, we are facing the disease with songs, smiles, and joy.
Links to Alzheimer’s Care Tips
We’ve put together a list of some other organizations providing Alzheimer’s care tips, and included a few direct links to helpful articles we found on each organization’s website.