“Alzheimer’s and dementia patients live in the moment, It is our job to give them as many moments as possible”

2016-Alzheimer’s Facts & Figures

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I am very pleased to announce that Christine Fields has joined the Angel Team as Field Supervisor.  Christine joins Charlotte’s Angels after spending the past seven years with The Independent Living Center where she performed the duties as field supervisor and scheduler for the In-Home Division.  When Christine entered our doors two weeks ago to apply for a position, I knew immediately that God had a plan for the person who we were looking for.  Christine had actually provided care for my mother Charlotte who was a resident at The Arbors at Silver Creek as Program Director.  Her passion for caring for those with Alzheimer’s reflects why I opened Charlotte’s Angels.  We are so honored to have her join our Angel Team.  Christine is a Joplin native married with two children.

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Having the proper tools of education and resources for family and agency caregivers is very important since 70% of all people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia are living at home. I am very pleased to announce that Kim Roy has recently completed the “Train the Trainer” certification course and is now a educator. Everyone who knows Kim see’s her passion for helping those who suffer from dementia. Kim will be passing this training on to her wonderful team of Alzheimer’s Specialty Caregivers here in the Joplin area. In addition to providing further training to our staff, Charlotte’s Angels will be offering family caregiver training to our community as a free service. For more information concerning the family caregiver training please contact our office.

Charlotte’s Angels is pleased to announce that we have received our MUSIC & MEMORY℠ Certification which makes our Agency the only home care agency in the State of Missouri to be certified through Dan Cohen’s MUSIC & MEMORY℠ Program. We have joined a network of over 1000 facilities and agencies across 45 states and 8 countries that promote the MUSIC & MEMORY℠ Therapeutic Program. It is the program’s goal to make personalized therapeutic music a standard of care throughout the health care industry. We have already started working with our dementia clients here in Joplin providing the therapeutic personalized music in the home and are seeing amazing results.

Why It Works
• The brain ties music to memory
• The personalized therapeutic music enables the listener to reconnect, regain social skills and live more fully

Therapeutic Benefits of Personalized Music
• Finally, a way to give pleasure to persons with advanced dementia
• Offers an enjoyable, fulfilling activity for persons in dialysis, on vent or bed-bound
• Increases cooperation and attention, reduces resistance to care—a real boost for staff morale
• Reduces agitation and sundowning
• Enhances engagement and socialization, fostering a calmer social environment
• Provides a valuable tool for the effort to reduce reliance on anti-psychotic medications
• Provides uplifting positive energy to staff members and family caregivers

Music and the Brain

Oliver Sacks on Music, Memory and Emotion

Oliver Sacks, M.D., noted neurologist and best-selling author of Musicophilia, discusses the impact of personalized music on people suffering from Alzheimer’s and severe memory loss.

 The past which is not recoverable in any other way is embedded, as if in amber, in the music, and people can regain a sense of identity. . . — Oliver Sacks

Charlotte’s Angels Music & Memory Program is pleased to announce that Dan Cohen, founder and Executive Director of MUSIC & MEMORY℠, will be our guest speaker for our private viewing of “Alive Inside” Tuesday March 31st 2015. Dan is the social worker who was followed in this documentary directed by Michael Rossato-Bennett.

Seating is limited for this private viewing. Please RSVP through our Facebook event page or by emailing our office at event rsvp.

Charlotte’s Angels Music & Memory Program and The Charlotte Lowry Foundation are sponsoring a private viewing of “Alive Inside”, a documentary film about music and memory, on Tuesday, March 31st at 6:00pm.  The film will be shown at College Heights Christian Church inside the small chapel.

A Meet and Greet reception will be held in the lobby from 6:00 to 6:30 with the film to follow.  Following the film a Q & A session will be held with special guest.

Alive Inside is a joyous cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. Filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals around the country who have been revitalized through the simple experience of listening to music. His camera reveals the uniquely human connection we find in music and how its healing power can triumph where prescription medication falls short.

This stirring documentary follows social worker Dan Cohen, founder of the nonprofit organization Music & Memory, as he fights against a broken healthcare system to demonstrate music’s ability to combat memory loss and restore a deep sense of self to those suffering from it. Rossato-Bennett visits family members who have witnessed the miraculous effects of personalized music on their loved ones, and offers illuminating interviews with experts including renowned neurologist and best-selling author Oliver Sacks (Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain) and musician Bobby McFerrin (“Don’t Worry, Be Happy”).

The documentary won the 2014 Sundance Audience Award as well as other national and international awards and has been featured on NPR and other major news outlets.

The screening is free and open to the public.  Seating is limited so please RSVP:  Facebook Page, 417-627-9322 or email lisa@charlottesangels.com

My mother Charlotte Lowry was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 67. Our family was faced with many challenges as we grasped to understand the disease. What I have learned from my experiences as a family caregiver is that Alzheimer’s patients live in the moment and it is our job as family and friends to give them as many moments as possible.

It was those moments as her memory faded that I learned that we can embrace the disease and find peace within our hearts. I will admit it was very difficult being the daughter of my mother who could no longer remember my name. But it was those moments we shared for what I remember today. Often she and I would just laugh over her telling a story and sometimes it brought tears. I can remember those difficult times of just washing her hair and how angry she would become. By the time her hair was dry she would look at me with a smile and say thank you. It was the simplest things that would bring the biggest smiles to my mother. She would often gaze at the clouds during our walks and tell me how beautiful they were. She would always point out the beautiful things in life that we often take for granted. As the disease progressed and her voice failed, she would give me those looks that only a mother would give a daughter. Those are the moments I remember most.

As time passed and the disease progressed, having those moments seemed to slip away. But I always would sit and talk to her hoping that in some way she could understand. A special moment occurred with my mother during her last few months. I had recently become engaged to my fiancé and I wanted to share the news with her. She sat this night in her chair slumped to one side as I approached her. I sat down next to her as I began to tell her about my engagement. For one moment my mom was there. She turned her head and reached out for my hand looking directly into my eyes with a smile. What seemed to be an eternity lasted only for a few seconds. But for those few seconds my mom shared a moment for a lifetime.

I have learned so much from those moments I shared with my mother. If you are faced with these challenges just remember to cherish every moment, laugh as loud as you can, and it’s okay to cry if you need to. It is for these moments we will always remember.

We are so fortunate to have Kim Roy on the Angel Team. She has marked her first Angel year with us. Kim’s passion for her clients and especially for those who suffer from Alzheimer’s and dementia makes the Angel Team very special. Many providers say they “specialize” in Alzheimer’s care which sounds great, but when Kim comes into your home to assist the family with training and the care plan there is no comparison. Families continually praise her for her commitment and compassion. Thank you again for making the Angel Team so special.