April 29, 2020
MUSIC & MEMORY℠, a nonprofit organization that brings personalized music into the lives of the elderly or infirm through digital music technology, has posted online a feature story about Kendal at Lexington’s Music & Memory program. The story describes the critical role played by Kendal at Lexington resident Jack Geikler in bringing the program to campus and to five local organizations serving older adults.
Two years ago, Kendal at Lexington adopted the Music & Memory program as part of its initiative to become the area’s leader in dementia care. Music & Memory uses iPods and other digital audio technology to bring personalized music playlists into the lives of those struggling with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other cognitive and physical challenges. Hearing musical favorites helps many residents feel like themselves again by drawing on deep memories not lost to dementia.
Because of the dramatic improvements the Music & Memory program has engendered in the lives of its residents, Kendal at Lexington has helped kick-start the program at a nearby hospice and at four other local organizations that care for older adults. With a $5,250 Kendal Charitable Funds grant, Kendal at Lexington purchased five iPods (along with headphones and chargers) for each of the five local organizations. That outreach effort has been cited as exemplary by CARF/CCAC.