Keeping in tune

Fort Rouge

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This article was published 15/05/2024 (512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The common areas of The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg will be filled with music in the coming weeks.

Tune-Up Café is an eight-week evening program, aimed at people with various forms dementia, but open to all, which is using musical melodies to gauge memory, improve confidence, and create a feeling of community among residents and visitors alike. Most notably, though, it encourages participants to sing.

The hour-long visits, hosted by musical therapist Naomi Friesen, present the group with a tentative list of different songs and their lyrics — some familiar, some not — and give them the melody, rather than just the title, to work from, so that the words come more naturally. And do they ever come — the first session, a “grand opening” on May 7, opened with a song by The Carpenters and moved along to everything from Neil Diamond to The Sound of Music. It had participants, who ranged from years of musical experience to none, tapping to the beat, singing along, or simply mouthing the lyrics.

“The cool thing is that melody — the tune of something — activates more of your brain than just language,” Friesen said, adding that people with memory issues may retain a melody longer than words.

“They already have the language,” she said, referring to the lyric books and song titles, “but having melody on top of that helps them to understand.”

Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, differs day-to-day, Friesen explained. Someone with the disease could understand that they’re about to go to a music program, but then become confused when they arrive. They may not know where they are or who’s around them, which can render them nervous and self-conscious, Friesen said. Music is a helpful way of creating a safe, communal environment, using tunes from the past to mitigate the nervousness of being in a confusing environment day-to-day.

“When I hum (the song), a lot of them are already humming,” Friesen said. “Melody and music is also connected to emotion … when you feel unsure, singing a familiar song together can be easing.”

Another aspect of the program is assessment. With a small group, Friesen is able to see where people are and bend the day depending on the feeling of the room.

“Some people can surprise themselves,” she said. “And I can provide more support for them.”

The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg, located at 276 Hugo St. N., is regarded as a bit of a “hidden secret.” Despite being the oldest of its kind in the province, it’s modestly sized and capable of organizing programs such as this.

Following the session, participants and caregivers are also welcome for chat, coffee and treats.

Tune-Up Cafés currently take place Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m. Any senior looking for a regular community activity is welcome to join in. The last session will run June 25.

Volunteers are also needed, and are more than welcome to join in on the song.

For more information or to register — free of charge — reach out to tuneupcafe276@gmail.com