In the last year of her life, Marta C. Gonzalez became a star once again. Researchers behind the Musica Para Despertar program in Spain videorecorded the former prima ballerina in the nursing home where she was living with dementia. Initially unresponsive, the former dancer revived as she heard the music of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Suddenly, in the video, her arms rise, and her head cocks in attention, and she begins to move with the music. Footage of her former days, interspersed with the video, show that she is replicating the moves she made when dancing Swan Lake.
The video has gone viral, and Gonzalez, who died not long after the video was made, has become a poster child on social media for the power of music to revive memories in those with cognitive afflictions such as Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s a moving video, and it’s only one of many videos now surfacing of figures reviving into memory at the sound of old, familiar songs and tunes.
I’m as moved as anyone. But as I remember both my parents and their struggles with dementia, I can’t help wondering as I watch the video:
Who washed her hair?
The great ballerina was clearly well cared for. Someone washed and styled her hair. Someone selected her attractive clothing, and helped her to dress. Someone fed her, and took her to the washroom. Someone got her into that room for the waiting team of psychologists and technicians.
And when the video was over and the team left, someone presumably took her back to her room, prepared her for her nap, provided her next meal, and dealt with the inevitable exhaustion.
This is a blog about dementia. And in particular, this blog is for all of the personal caregivers—spouses, children, relatives and friends—who spend time providing care for a loved one living with dementia. In this blog, I will report some of the findings of my research into the areas of dementia, music and information.
So yes, there’s music in this blog. But it’s not about Marta Gonzalez dancing Swan Lake. It’s about getting Marta Gonzalez into the room and out of it again. It’s about caring for a loved one that needs our help, and needs it badly, and needs it constantly.