The Magic Of Music and Memory
The magic of music is a truly astonishing thing especially when you see how it can transform the lives of people suffering from dementia. Florence Vigod was a 102-years-old at the time this video was recorded.
She struggled with her short-term memory, however, when she sat down at a piano she could remember all the songs she had been playing since she was just 6 years old! She doesn’t take any medication and doesn’t need any help walking and can still play the piano like a pro! Watch this special report where Florence gets the nursing home dancing in the video below.
Florence Vigod
Unfortunately, Florence passed away in April 2019. Her funeral was held at the Steels Memorial Chapel and on their website, they published this message:
“Beloved wife of the late Samuel. Dear mother of Judith and her late husband Stan, the late Bernie and his wife Zena, Raphael and his wife Jill. Devoted Grandma of Ian (Andrea), Mara, Simone (Daniel), Michelle (Jon), and Great Grandma of Layla, Zack, Troy, Abby, Robert, Cole, and Bari. A special thank you to the management and staff of Cedarhurst Dementia Care Home. Memorial donations may be made in Florence’s memory to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario 416-967-5900 or the charity of your choice.”
On their website, you can leave your condolences for Florence, who was a brilliant pianist and from what our research has found, also, a very lovely lady.
Music And Memory
Music seems to have a real synergy with people struggling with their memory and all sorts of other brain-related diseases. In the video below, watch a ballerina with Alzheimers remember her entire routine when she was played the music she used to dance to.
The woman in the video is called Marta Cinta González Saldaña who sadly passed away later in the year after this video was recorded. Marta was a ballet dancer in her youth who clearly still had vivid memories of her dancing days, which seemed to be brought to the surface through music. She says at the end of the video “It makes me emotional”.
Music definitely has healing powers and an incredible ability to touch the human soul and bring back emotional memories from our past. Hopefully, these stories give hope and happiness to the family and friends of anyone who is suffering from this terrible disease.