Boosting Memory and Mood with Music

Research shows that music is successful in soothing and comforting individuals with dementia, as well as reducing agitation and depression.

We invite you to join a virtual webinar featuring Dr. Cathy Tompkins and Dr. Emily Ihara of George Mason University who will share information regarding the Mason Music & Memory Initiative, which focuses on various musical interventions to improve the quality of life of persons living with dementia. These interventions use music to access long-held joyful memories and positive emotions. This person-centric approach, has been shown to reduce the need for pharmacologic interventions.

Dr. Catherine J. Tompkins, Ph.D., M.S.W. is the Professor & Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, College of Health and Human Services at George Mason University as well as a co-Principal Investigator for the Mason Music & Memory Initiative (M3I). Dr. Tompkins currently teaches generalist social work courses and courses in gerontology. Her research areas include: caregiving, interventions for dementia care, kinship care and intergenerational relationships.

Dr. Emily Ihara is co-Principal Investigator for M3I and Associate Professor and the Chair of the Department of Social Work. Dr. Ihara’s research interests focus on interventions, policies, and system changes necessary to eliminate health inequities for vulnerable populations across the life course.

The Mason Music & Memory Initiative program is part of the national Music & Memory program founded by Dan Cohen in 2008.

This presentation will also kick off Music Therapy Thursdays at The Kensington. Our Music Therapy sessions,  held each Thursday, will be led by Jessica Channell and will explore a variety of ways participants and their caregivers can use different elements of music to maintain cognitive functioning, support healthy lung capacity, and encourage exercise all while interacting socially in a virtual setting. Participant-preferred music will motivate participants to reminisce, challenge encoding and recall skills, practice deep breathing, give opportunities to use focused and divided attention, and keep up muscle strength from our lips to our toes.

Please register to receive more information about Music Therapy Thursdays and also to receive the zoom information for this event.