DELMARVA – A program in Maryland is taking a unique approach to providing support for caregivers who serve patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s, and a musical approach at that.
“It’s very gratifying that when I talk about these stories love music and the world we do, it is so universal it touches everything,” says Ilyana Kadushin, the Executive Director of Stories Love Music. Stories Love Music is a program improving the care and support for senior citizens through their caregivers, one note at a time.
A musician and entertainer, Kadushin has made it her mission in life to use her musical background as a unique way to help others, specifically caregivers. “It teaches them how to use music and how to use creative tools for their self-care, their stress management because we all know caregivers of all kinds have a tough job.”
Back in 2012, Kadushin was performing in New York City, and that’s when her talents were used for uplifting purposes after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy left many residents, senior citizens especially, displaced in shelters. “It was a very strong depressing wake-up call of the amount of seniors that we have in this country and it was just as startling for me as a younger person to say wow this is a big deal,” says Kadushin. She adds, “So we’re performing one of our songs called the joy of life and it’s a very uplifting positive song the chorus is “the joy of life is here with you today.”
However, as they finish the song Kadushin explains how one lady spoke out and expressed how much their music provided emotional relief from the current chaos, and gave her hope…Which made her realize her music was much more than just for entertainment. “There’s some people in our world, in our society, it’s not just fun and games, that music makes them feel seen and heard understood.” She adds, “We thought oh we can have an impact, let’s take this experience and turn it into something, I didn’t know what that was going to mean.”
That something eventually became Stories Loves Music, the joy of creative engagement for caregivers. Officially founded in 2017 in Maryland, the program aims to use music as a way to help caregivers either revive or develop a relationship with music, reduce anxiety and stress, and provide self-care to better serve their patients. “There’s been a lot of studies done on the effect of music on the brain for all sorts of neurological degenerative diseases, not just Alzheimer’s but Autism, and even Parkinson’s.” Kadushin goes on to say, “We want people to use music the same way people do food, nutrition, medicine, hygiene, we want it to become a part of their every day.”
Through a grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Kadushin was able to expand and train others to use the programming in hospitals, at home, nursing homes, or places like the MAC center in Salisbury. “There’s no comparison to sitting in a circle with a group of caregivers and whether I’m singing to them or I’m playing recordings of music that they like, they get to talk, make their playlist and think about what music they need,” she tells us.
Kadushin also tells 47 ABC, that she only can hope her program continues to provide caregivers and patients with the musical tools to stay motivated and feel supported. “So if in some way Stories Love Music with everything else that’s out there can make an impact in that arena allow caregivers to fill better their work on the job.”
If you want to learn more about the programming, or how to book Kadushin for caregivers, visit her organization’s website.