Rolla Presbyterian Manor receives grant for music program

Few things are more personal than our musical tastes. Favorite songs trigger rich memories and influence our moods. Soon residents at Rolla Presbyterian Manor will be able to re-live highlights of their lives thanks to a grant from the Missouri Coalition Celebrating Care Continuum Change.

Launched by social worker Dan Cohen in 2008, Music & Memory brings individualized music to residents in long-term care using iPod personal music players loaded with the recipient’s favorite songs.

Rolla Presbyterian Manor was one of 40 Missouri care provider organizations selected to receive grant funding to participate in the Music & Memory Certification Program. Rolla Presbyterian Manor also will receive a starter kit with new and used iPods, headphones and iTunes cards to kick-start the program.

“Even though we are a small community, many of our residents have some sort of dementia and/or significant physical disability,” said Joy Parker, activities assistant at Presbyterian Manor. “We believe that the Music and Memory program will bring out, for our residents, the abilities of the past, instead of the constant focus on their disabilities now.”

In spite of its name, the Music & Memory program isn’t limited to residents in memory care. Once enough players are available, any resident will be welcome to plug in and play the music they love best—whether that’s Beethoven, Count Basie or the Beatles.

Thanks to the grant to Rolla Presbyterian Manor, employees at all of the Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campuses in Kansas and Missouri received the training at a reduced rate.

For more information about the program or to contribute toward the purchase of additional iPods, headphones and iTunes cards, contact Parker at 573-364-7336. To learn more about Rolla Presbyterian Manor, contact Marketing Director Joelle Freeland at 573-364-7336 or send us an email.