Is Virtual Reality the Next Best Thing for People with Dementia?
Virtual Reality (VR) devices are nothing new. In fact,
There’s growing evidence that beneficial music is our best non-pharmacological tool for individuals with dementia, Parkinson’s, depression, and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Beloved music can play an essential role by helping to alleviate loneliness and despair, especially for frail elders.
Drawing on a decade of field experience, I founded Right to Music in 2019 to advocate for integrating best music-based interventions into health care settings and to promote use of beneficial music by families and professionals caring for loved ones at home. Working with a diverse array of stakeholders, my efforts include:
* Educating health care professionals about the benefits of music;
* Changing government policy to incentivize use of beneficial music in health care settings;
* Raising public awareness;
* Shifting research focus to more practicable and scalable initiatives to improve quality of life.
Together, we must discover: What needs to change to increase awareness and expand the use of beneficial music in health care?
Please contact me, Dan Cohen, to discuss your interests or to arrange for a presentation.
“With a lifetime of our own music experiences, we are all our own experts. Alive Inside inspires us to leverage the power of music to benefit those we love and care for. This 78 minute documentary by Michael Rossato-Bennett follows my journey to make sure every family knows and every care home provides this food for the soul.
“From the first time I saw someone light up, to watching success by individuals, their families and thousands of healthcare providers, I knew we were on the right track. But we still have a long way to go to improve the lives of our most vulnerable citizens.”
– Dan Cohen
Alive Inside can be found streaming online. Platforms vary by country. In the U.S., it’s available at no charge on YouTube and on various other streaming platforms.
“Music is the universal language of mankind” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Virtual Reality (VR) devices are nothing new. In fact,
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