Singing “Oldies” With Alzheimer’s Patients

When they had sing-alongs at the nursing home when I visited my mother or there was music playing in her room, usually the songs were the “oldies” she might have known in her girlhood or younger adult years.

I recognized them as songs like, “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” “Danny Boy,” For Me and My Gal,” “In the Good Old Summertime,” School Days,” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”  These were songs Mother or Father sang when we were children, ones popular during their young adult and courting years.

Since so many of the Alzheimer’s patients are living in former years, they may recognize these and similar era tunes and feel comforted by them.

Videos and DVDs, such as Front Row Seat – Sing Along With Barbara, may be ones your family member might enjoy.  In this particular video a group of 80 year-old and older residents sing and dance, to the accompaniment to songs from their youth.