on air duct here this doesn’t get any more mate alright so good afternoon my
more mate alright so good afternoon my
more mate alright so good afternoon my name is Eleanor fate and my big idea is
name is Eleanor fate and my big idea is
name is Eleanor fate and my big idea is about memory especially the memory of
about memory especially the memory of
about memory especially the memory of elders and how we can use the power of
elders and how we can use the power of
elders and how we can use the power of art and music to help elders remember
art and music to help elders remember
art and music to help elders remember and hold on to their sense of self it’s
and hold on to their sense of self it’s
and hold on to their sense of self it’s also about the even greater power of
also about the even greater power of
also about the even greater power of emotional connection now might notice
emotional connection now might notice
emotional connection now might notice that i have some gray hairs myself and
that i have some gray hairs myself and
that i have some gray hairs myself and moving towards elderhood so i may forget
moving towards elderhood so i may forget
moving towards elderhood so i may forget some what I’m about to say and I go Phil
some what I’m about to say and I go Phil
some what I’m about to say and I go Phil bear with me you can use those moments
bear with me you can use those moments
bear with me you can use those moments up to have some personal connection I
up to have some personal connection I
up to have some personal connection I also brought my own personal Proctor
also brought my own personal Proctor
also brought my own personal Proctor instead of up here to help me help me I
instead of up here to help me help me I
instead of up here to help me help me I happen to to lose track too much alright
happen to to lose track too much alright
happen to to lose track too much alright so I wonder what many of you have
so I wonder what many of you have
so I wonder what many of you have thought how nice it would be to have a
thought how nice it would be to have a
thought how nice it would be to have a photographic memory I mean really
photographic memory I mean really
photographic memory I mean really wouldn’t it be great especially when
wouldn’t it be great especially when
wouldn’t it be great especially when exam time
exam time
exam time but the fact is only a tiny fraction of
but the fact is only a tiny fraction of
but the fact is only a tiny fraction of people have a true photographic memory
people have a true photographic memory
people have a true photographic memory the vast majority of us have brains that
the vast majority of us have brains that
the vast majority of us have brains that latch on to some memories while
latch on to some memories while
latch on to some memories while consigning most to the trash heap we get
consigning most to the trash heap we get
consigning most to the trash heap we get frustrated when we can’t remember what
frustrated when we can’t remember what
frustrated when we can’t remember what we want to remember and then we get
we want to remember and then we get
we want to remember and then we get ambushed by in the random memories that
ambushed by in the random memories that
ambushed by in the random memories that just emerge like like commercial jingles
just emerge like like commercial jingles
just emerge like like commercial jingles from our childhood as writer Austin
from our childhood as writer Austin
from our childhood as writer Austin O’Malley says there it is already up
O’Malley says there it is already up
O’Malley says there it is already up there memory is a crazy person who
there memory is a crazy person who
there memory is a crazy person who hoards colored rags and throws away food
trying to get it to go away there you go
trying to get it to go away there you go thank you most of us don’t understand
thank you most of us don’t understand
thank you most of us don’t understand what memories really are we believe that
what memories really are we believe that
what memories really are we believe that a memory is a fixed representation of
a memory is a fixed representation of
a memory is a fixed representation of something that happened in the past we
something that happened in the past we
something that happened in the past we think that we carry our memories around
think that we carry our memories around
think that we carry our memories around with us in our brains it was sort of
with us in our brains it was sort of
with us in our brains it was sort of like in a sort of mental file cabinet we
like in a sort of mental file cabinet we
like in a sort of mental file cabinet we have a sense of having one we possess
have a sense of having one we possess
have a sense of having one we possess them as if they could call them and try
them as if they could call them and try
them as if they could call them and try them out one by one to look at them as
them out one by one to look at them as
them out one by one to look at them as if they were diary entries that had
if they were diary entries that had
if they were diary entries that had remained unchanged ever since we first
remained unchanged ever since we first
remained unchanged ever since we first wrote them but this is all wrong turns
wrote them but this is all wrong turns
wrote them but this is all wrong turns out that memory as far more to do with
out that memory as far more to do with
out that memory as far more to do with imagination than we like to think as
imagination than we like to think as
imagination than we like to think as Charles fern email says in his book
Charles fern email says in his book
Charles fern email says in his book pieces of light the past is a story that
pieces of light the past is a story that
pieces of light the past is a story that we tell ourselves our memories are not
we tell ourselves our memories are not
we tell ourselves our memories are not possessions but mental constructions
possessions but mental constructions
possessions but mental constructions that we create as we are
that we create as we are
that we create as we are remembering that involving many
remembering that involving many
remembering that involving many different neurons throughout the campus
different neurons throughout the campus
different neurons throughout the campus region of our brains okay so their
region of our brains okay so their
region of our brains okay so their mental constructions they are built in
mental constructions they are built in
mental constructions they are built in the here and now not retrieve whole from
the here and now not retrieve whole from
the here and now not retrieve whole from the past and every time I remember
the past and every time I remember
the past and every time I remember something we reconstructed from its
something we reconstructed from its
something we reconstructed from its various parts and not always in the same
various parts and not always in the same
various parts and not always in the same way not only that we unconsciously bias
way not only that we unconsciously bias
way not only that we unconsciously bias our memories with emotions and
our memories with emotions and
our memories with emotions and information that we acquire after the
information that we acquire after the
information that we acquire after the event that we’re remembering so in this
event that we’re remembering so in this
event that we’re remembering so in this way our memories are really not very
way our memories are really not very
way our memories are really not very reliable even so it’s hard to imagine
reliable even so it’s hard to imagine
reliable even so it’s hard to imagine ourselves without them who would we be
ourselves without them who would we be
ourselves without them who would we be without our memories for most of us our
without our memories for most of us our
without our memories for most of us our memories our core part of our identity
memories our core part of our identity
memories our core part of our identity without our marriage we even have any
without our marriage we even have any
without our marriage we even have any sense of self at all these requests is
sense of self at all these requests is
sense of self at all these requests is that I began asking about memory once my
that I began asking about memory once my
that I began asking about memory once my mother began news in cars first it was
mother began news in cars first it was
mother began news in cars first it was just short-term memories the Bennett
just short-term memories the Bennett
just short-term memories the Bennett ruins and longer term memories like
ruins and longer term memories like
ruins and longer term memories like remembering her childhood on a fruit
remembering her childhood on a fruit
remembering her childhood on a fruit farm in New Jersey where she grew up
farm in New Jersey where she grew up
farm in New Jersey where she grew up memories of her three sisters even
memories of her three sisters even
memories of her three sisters even memories of her parents started to go
memories of her parents started to go
memories of her parents started to go when I visited her she described to me
when I visited her she described to me
when I visited her she described to me what it was like to be gradually
what it was like to be gradually
what it was like to be gradually losing her memories it’s like I’m on a
losing her memories it’s like I’m on a
losing her memories it’s like I’m on a small island in the midst of a seat she
small island in the midst of a seat she
small island in the midst of a seat she said and there’s a fog bank wrong again
said and there’s a fog bank wrong again
said and there’s a fog bank wrong again I used to be able to see all the way out
I used to be able to see all the way out
I used to be able to see all the way out to the horizon but now the fog keeps
to the horizon but now the fog keeps
to the horizon but now the fog keeps coming closer and closer and I can see
coming closer and closer and I can see
coming closer and closer and I can see only a little way ahead and that little
only a little way ahead and that little
only a little way ahead and that little way ahead keeps shrinking and shrinking
way ahead keeps shrinking and shrinking
way ahead keeps shrinking and shrinking hearing this help me understand what the
hearing this help me understand what the
hearing this help me understand what the experience of losing her memory was like
experience of losing her memory was like
experience of losing her memory was like for my mom but it also made me feel
for my mom but it also made me feel
for my mom but it also made me feel helpless I wanted to be able to scan on
helpless I wanted to be able to scan on
helpless I wanted to be able to scan on the shore of that room painted with her
the shore of that room painted with her
the shore of that room painted with her and somehow blow the fog back at least
and somehow blow the fog back at least
and somehow blow the fog back at least for a moment but I had no idea that this
for a moment but I had no idea that this
for a moment but I had no idea that this was possible a few months later my
was possible a few months later my
was possible a few months later my mother died that was when I began to
mother died that was when I began to
mother died that was when I began to really learn more and read more about
really learn more and read more about
really learn more and read more about how many works and doesn’t work
I wish taking my proper I wish I had
I wish taking my proper I wish I had known earlier what I have since learned
known earlier what I have since learned
known earlier what I have since learned about how art and music can reach into
about how art and music can reach into
about how art and music can reach into and revitalize others with memory loss
and revitalize others with memory loss
and revitalize others with memory loss the effect can be almost miraculous so
the effect can be almost miraculous so
the effect can be almost miraculous so most care centers in the United States
most care centers in the United States
most care centers in the United States for people with Alzheimer’s and other
for people with Alzheimer’s and other
for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia operate on a medical
forms of dementia operate on a medical
forms of dementia operate on a medical model the medical model focuses on the
model the medical model focuses on the
model the medical model focuses on the person’s deficits and tries to fix them
person’s deficits and tries to fix them
person’s deficits and tries to fix them usually with medications now there are
usually with medications now there are
usually with medications now there are some medications that help slow memory
some medications that help slow memory
some medications that help slow memory loss but there is no medication yet
loss but there is no medication yet
loss but there is no medication yet developed that actually reverses the
developed that actually reverses the
developed that actually reverses the process of forgetting when you go into
process of forgetting when you go into
process of forgetting when you go into these facilities for people with
these facilities for people with
these facilities for people with Alzheimer’s and long-term dementia what
Alzheimer’s and long-term dementia what
Alzheimer’s and long-term dementia what you often see is people just sitting day
you often see is people just sitting day
you often see is people just sitting day after day hour after hour constantly
after day hour after hour constantly
after day hour after hour constantly sitting with little or no agency in
sitting with little or no agency in
sitting with little or no agency in their lives there all the interactions
their lives there all the interactions
their lives there all the interactions with people who are paid to take care of
with people who are paid to take care of
with people who are paid to take care of their physical needs it’s easy to see
their physical needs it’s easy to see
their physical needs it’s easy to see how in this situation a person who could
how in this situation a person who could
how in this situation a person who could begin to lose their sense of who they
begin to lose their sense of who they
begin to lose their sense of who they are but a new model of dementia care is
are but a new model of dementia care is
are but a new model of dementia care is emerging a much more positive model
emerging a much more positive model
emerging a much more positive model instead of focusing on a person’s
instead of focusing on a person’s
instead of focusing on a person’s deficits focuses on what they’re already
deficits focuses on what they’re already
deficits focuses on what they’re already doing and tries to build on that through
doing and tries to build on that through
doing and tries to build on that through participation in creative arts creative
participation in creative arts creative
participation in creative arts creative arts because the creative cards drawn
arts because the creative cards drawn
arts because the creative cards drawn parts of the brain that are still
parts of the brain that are still
parts of the brain that are still relatively
relatively
relatively intact in most people with dementia the
intact in most people with dementia the
intact in most people with dementia the big idea in this approach is to use the
big idea in this approach is to use the
big idea in this approach is to use the arts to engage and connect with people
arts to engage and connect with people
arts to engage and connect with people it’s based on the idea that no matter
it’s based on the idea that no matter
it’s based on the idea that no matter how many memories they lost an essential
how many memories they lost an essential
how many memories they lost an essential piece of whom they always were still
piece of whom they always were still
piece of whom they always were still remains since memory turns out to be as
remains since memory turns out to be as
remains since memory turns out to be as much about imagination it’s about exact
much about imagination it’s about exact
much about imagination it’s about exact factual recall it makes sense that the
factual recall it makes sense that the
factual recall it makes sense that the creative arts can be an avenue for
creative arts can be an avenue for
creative arts can be an avenue for recovering memories music music classes
recovering memories music music classes
recovering memories music music classes where in which elders are encouraged to
where in which elders are encouraged to
where in which elders are encouraged to sing and play instruments drawing a
sing and play instruments drawing a
sing and play instruments drawing a storytelling painting poetry these are
storytelling painting poetry these are
storytelling painting poetry these are all modalities that draw on parts of the
all modalities that draw on parts of the
all modalities that draw on parts of the brain that are least impaired in people
brain that are least impaired in people
brain that are least impaired in people with dementia research as an increasing
with dementia research as an increasing
with dementia research as an increasing body of research has shown in fact that
body of research has shown in fact that
body of research has shown in fact that owners who participate in arts
owners who participate in arts
owners who participate in arts activities experience less stress more
activities experience less stress more
activities experience less stress more energy they’re happier they feel more
energy they’re happier they feel more
energy they’re happier they feel more connected to the world and they have an
connected to the world and they have an
connected to the world and they have an overall better quality of life I wish I
overall better quality of life I wish I
overall better quality of life I wish I had known about this research when my
had known about this research when my
had known about this research when my mother
mother
mother still alive she would always been an
still alive she would always been an
still alive she would always been an unusually creative and imaginative
unusually creative and imaginative
unusually creative and imaginative person and I think if I could try to
person and I think if I could try to
person and I think if I could try to engage her with clay or pain both
engage her with clay or pain both
engage her with clay or pain both mediums that she’d working she was
mediums that she’d working she was
mediums that she’d working she was younger I think it would have energized
younger I think it would have energized
younger I think it would have energized her and maybe brought back some of her
her and maybe brought back some of her
her and maybe brought back some of her memories listening to music as an
memories listening to music as an
memories listening to music as an especially can be especially beneficial
especially can be especially beneficial
especially can be especially beneficial to people with dementia even to people
to people with dementia even to people
to people with dementia even to people who have an extremely advanced dementia
who have an extremely advanced dementia
who have an extremely advanced dementia many of you make machines or may be
many of you make machines or may be
many of you make machines or may be familiar with this video that I’m about
familiar with this video that I’m about
familiar with this video that I’m about to show QQ thank you um about a man
to show QQ thank you um about a man
to show QQ thank you um about a man named Henry notice what happens to Henry
named Henry notice what happens to Henry
named Henry notice what happens to Henry when we first hears the music depressed
when we first hears the music depressed
when we first hears the music depressed I’m sponsor and almost there is ever an
I’m sponsor and almost there is ever an
I’m sponsor and almost there is ever an iPod containing we know his favorite
iPod containing we know his favorite
iPod containing we know his favorite music
music
music [Music]
so this video and what I was learning
so this video and what I was learning about music and art inspired me to
about music and art inspired me to
about music and art inspired me to develop a course at arcadia university
develop a course at arcadia university
develop a course at arcadia university for the honors program called music art
for the honors program called music art
for the honors program called music art and memory I wanted to put these claims
and memory I wanted to put these claims
and memory I wanted to put these claims to the test locally so fair game care
to the test locally so fair game care
to the test locally so fair game care center is less than two miles away from
center is less than two miles away from
center is less than two miles away from Arcadia but it’s a world away it’s the
Arcadia but it’s a world away it’s the
Arcadia but it’s a world away it’s the world of the very old and the very
world of the very old and the very
world of the very old and the very impaired a world most of us are shielded
impaired a world most of us are shielded
impaired a world most of us are shielded from in our daily lives walking in for
from in our daily lives walking in for
from in our daily lives walking in for the first time I see Reza some residents
the first time I see Reza some residents
the first time I see Reza some residents smiling eagerly happy to see my dog
smiling eagerly happy to see my dog
smiling eagerly happy to see my dog trotting by my side while others appear
trotting by my side while others appear
trotting by my side while others appear lost inside themselves but very
lost inside themselves but very
lost inside themselves but very residents are lucky they have a director
residents are lucky they have a director
residents are lucky they have a director who is open to trying new things and
who is open to trying new things and
who is open to trying new things and activities person who works hard to get
activities person who works hard to get
activities person who works hard to get residents engaged and connecting but
residents engaged and connecting but
residents engaged and connecting but they simply don’t have enough staff to
they simply don’t have enough staff to
they simply don’t have enough staff to be able to work individually one on one
be able to work individually one on one
be able to work individually one on one of its residents to individualize
of its residents to individualize
of its residents to individualize activities to tease out each resident’s
activities to tease out each resident’s
activities to tease out each resident’s own unique stories that’s where the
own unique stories that’s where the
own unique stories that’s where the arcadia class comes in its structured
arcadia class comes in its structured
arcadia class comes in its structured around weekly visits to fair to each
around weekly visits to fair to each
around weekly visits to fair to each student partner with an elder in varying
student partner with an elder in varying
student partner with an elder in varying stages
stages
stages memory loss the students need with their
memory loss the students need with their
memory loss the students need with their elders at tables and try to make a
elders at tables and try to make a
elders at tables and try to make a connection it can be awkward at first
connection it can be awkward at first
connection it can be awkward at first but it’s eased by the presence of
but it’s eased by the presence of
but it’s eased by the presence of arbitrary we’ve got crayons markers
arbitrary we’ve got crayons markers
arbitrary we’ve got crayons markers pains colored pencils modeling clay and
pains colored pencils modeling clay and
pains colored pencils modeling clay and the students usually are the first to
the students usually are the first to
the students usually are the first to use these materials with their partners
use these materials with their partners
use these materials with their partners usually to illustrate something they’re
usually to illustrate something they’re
usually to illustrate something they’re hearing about of their conversation with
hearing about of their conversation with
hearing about of their conversation with their partners we try to draw their
their partners we try to draw their
their partners we try to draw their partners our but I’m invited of course
partners our but I’m invited of course
partners our but I’m invited of course they’re often seeing that Ellie are
they’re often seeing that Ellie are
they’re often seeing that Ellie are starting to use the materials to think
starting to use the materials to think
starting to use the materials to think sometimes picking up the paintbrush for
sometimes picking up the paintbrush for
sometimes picking up the paintbrush for the first time oops okay never learn
the first time oops okay never learn
the first time oops okay never learn that the best night is missing um
that the best night is missing um
that the best night is missing um someone’s picking up a paintbrush for
someone’s picking up a paintbrush for
someone’s picking up a paintbrush for the first time to make a mark on the
the first time to make a mark on the
the first time to make a mark on the page this is really thrilling to see
page this is really thrilling to see
page this is really thrilling to see because they’re means that they’re
because they’re means that they’re
because they’re means that they’re trusting the connection or their student
trusting the connection or their student
trusting the connection or their student partner enough that they feel emboldened
partner enough that they feel emboldened
partner enough that they feel emboldened to use the art materials themselves and
to use the art materials themselves and
to use the art materials themselves and make their own marks oh yeah we add
make their own marks oh yeah we add
make their own marks oh yeah we add music to the mix students creating
music to the mix students creating
music to the mix students creating playlists individualized playlist for
playlists individualized playlist for
playlists individualized playlist for their partners choosing music mostly
their partners choosing music mostly
their partners choosing music mostly music that the elders that were most
music that the elders that were most
music that the elders that were most sorry I’m confused by the slides
sorry I’m confused by the slides
sorry I’m confused by the slides choosing elder shooting choosing music
choosing elder shooting choosing music
choosing elder shooting choosing music that the elders most loved when they
that the elders most loved when they
that the elders most loved when they revealed her in their youth as students
revealed her in their youth as students
revealed her in their youth as students several songs with their elders in the
several songs with their elders in the
several songs with their elders in the room sometimes the entire just burst
room sometimes the entire just burst
room sometimes the entire just burst into song because they all recognized
into song because they all recognized
into song because they all recognized something and we are singing it together
something and we are singing it together
something and we are singing it together and it’s a marvelous feeling and you can
and it’s a marvelous feeling and you can
and it’s a marvelous feeling and you can see their faces light up as the songs
see their faces light up as the songs
see their faces light up as the songs trigger memories and emotional states
trigger memories and emotional states
trigger memories and emotional states that have been excessive inaccessible
that have been excessive inaccessible
that have been excessive inaccessible left to them for a long time just switch
left to them for a long time just switch
left to them for a long time just switch through a couple of meetings because I
through a couple of meetings because I
through a couple of meetings because I didn’t end up using us okay I didn’t
didn’t end up using us okay I didn’t
didn’t end up using us okay I didn’t think they were they were on this
think they were they were on this
think they were they were on this version so when I first conceived this
version so when I first conceived this
version so when I first conceived this course I thought of it as a kind of
course I thought of it as a kind of
course I thought of it as a kind of community service in which we would be
community service in which we would be
community service in which we would be the givers and the elders would be the
the givers and the elders would be the
the givers and the elders would be the receivers I thought we what we would
receivers I thought we what we would
receivers I thought we what we would provide with eager attentive listeners
provide with eager attentive listeners
provide with eager attentive listeners and opportunities to expand and extend
and opportunities to expand and extend
and opportunities to expand and extend their and explore their memories the
their and explore their memories the
their and explore their memories the elders memories this happened but the
elders memories this happened but the
elders memories this happened but the course turned out to be much more
course turned out to be much more
course turned out to be much more instead of about retrieving memories it
instead of about retrieving memories it
instead of about retrieving memories it turned out to be much more about making
turned out to be much more about making
turned out to be much more about making mutual emotional connections with each
mutual emotional connections with each
mutual emotional connections with each other the our other part our other
other the our other part our other
other the our other part our other partners became family members to us
partners became family members to us
partners became family members to us without the emotional baggage and we’re
without the emotional baggage and we’re
without the emotional baggage and we’re awakened through one on one engagement
awakened through one on one engagement
awakened through one on one engagement connection creativity and the chance to
connection creativity and the chance to
connection creativity and the chance to are some real agency in their lives okay
are some real agency in their lives okay
are some real agency in their lives okay yes the chance to have some real agency
yes the chance to have some real agency
yes the chance to have some real agency in their lives so yeah this kind of
in their lives so yeah this kind of
in their lives so yeah this kind of intense connection that allowed the
intense connection that allowed the
intense connection that allowed the elders to feel more deeply see known and
elders to feel more deeply see known and
elders to feel more deeply see known and loved is what the course ended up really
loved is what the course ended up really
loved is what the course ended up really being about more than a much more about
being about more than a much more about
being about more than a much more about retrieving specific memories and it’s
retrieving specific memories and it’s
retrieving specific memories and it’s this kind of intense emotional
this kind of intense emotional
this kind of intense emotional connection that I’ve come to believe is
connection that I’ve come to believe is
connection that I’ve come to believe is even more important to our sense of self
even more important to our sense of self
even more important to our sense of self than our memories are I still wish that
than our memories are I still wish that
than our memories are I still wish that I had thought to engage my mom in some
I had thought to engage my mom in some
I had thought to engage my mom in some kind of clay work or painting or have
kind of clay work or painting or have
kind of clay work or painting or have her listen to the music of her youth in
her listen to the music of her youth in
her listen to the music of her youth in the last year’s who knows how it might
the last year’s who knows how it might
the last year’s who knows how it might have blown the fog back a little bit
have blown the fog back a little bit
have blown the fog back a little bit from her Island but might open in her
from her Island but might open in her
from her Island but might open in her what memories might have come into
what memories might have come into
what memories might have come into clearer focus but I’m very grateful that
clearer focus but I’m very grateful that
clearer focus but I’m very grateful that for for the strong connection that we
for for the strong connection that we
for for the strong connection that we had together to the end and as I won’t
had together to the end and as I won’t
had together to the end and as I won’t wear what’s that doing there and here we
wear what’s that doing there and here we
wear what’s that doing there and here we go out of order but that’s okay and as I
go out of order but that’s okay and as I
go out of order but that’s okay and as I won’t around the activity room the
won’t around the activity room the
won’t around the activity room the activities room and fear me watching my
activities room and fear me watching my
activities room and fear me watching my students there we go watching my
students there we go watching my
students there we go watching my students singing with their partners
students singing with their partners
students singing with their partners making art comforting and cheering each
making art comforting and cheering each
making art comforting and cheering each other on I thank my mother for the big
other on I thank my mother for the big
other on I thank my mother for the big idea that has come to life in this
idea that has come to life in this
idea that has come to life in this course thank you very much
course thank you very much
course thank you very much a few more pictures is to show ya thang
a few more pictures is to show ya thang
a few more pictures is to show ya thang [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
hopefully you can see in some of these
hopefully you can see in some of these pictures the kind of connections that
pictures the kind of connections that
pictures the kind of connections that students are making with their partners
students are making with their partners
students are making with their partners they really become like family members
and many students continue to visit with
and many students continue to visit with their partners after the semester is
their partners after the semester is
their partners after the semester is over and to correspond with them
thank you very
thank you very [Applause]
”
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