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Nancy Lee Hendley interviewed Alejandro Berti, a music therapist currently working at a nursing home in Manhattan. Nancy was privileged to
accompany Alejandro at his work and observe the way that he relates to persons with dementia. Alejandro graduated from
the 45-hour Dementia Care Training in December of 2008.
A lejandro: I first met Ilene (a person with dementia)
in July of 2008. She loved to socialize. She used to go
dancing at the Savoy in Harlem. I would often dance with
her at birthday parties and musical events. She was a good
dancer. Following a hospitalization,
Ilene experienced a severe decline. She
became wheelchair bound and struggled
to say even one word.
In my role as a music therapist I try
to connect to the people I work with
in any way that they can. Some of the
people are still verbal. Others can dance
or sing. Some prefer to watch TV. I
adjust the way that I am to match their
needs.
Nancy: Can you give me an example?
Alejandro: One person in my group
needs to get up and walk into the
hallway occasionally. I always have
a chair available for that person in the group so that she
knows that she is included. She can be in the group how
she can. (Not necessarily the way I want her to be.)
Nancy: Back to Ilene.
Alejandro: Ilene is loved by all of the staff . She has such a
great personality. In her current condition, just saying my
name seems to take all of the energy that she can muster.
You can tell that she wants to speak, to communicate. You
see it in her eyes, in the way that she engages her whole
body in the eff ort to speak.
For a holiday the hospital hired four accordion players.
I went with one of the players named Bob who sang
some popular songs from his repertoire. Unaware of the
diffi culties that Ilene was experiencing, Bob asked her if
there was a special song that she would like to hear.
After a moment or two Ilene gathered up her whole
body, and with great eff ort uttered something that sounded
like “Shasduss.” Bob and I looked at each other and tried to
fi gure out what Ilene might be trying to say. Bob guessed,
“Stardust.” She nodded her head with a look of grateful
relief.
Nancy: What happened when he played it for her?
Alejandro: Ilene lit up. She followed Bob around the
room with her eyes.
Later that day Ilene’s daughter
and granddaughter were visiting. I
mentioned to them that Ilene had
chosen the song Stardust during our
session. Ilene’s daughter smiled as she
recalled, “That was my parent’s song.
They fell in love with each other while
they were dancing to Stardust.”
Even when a person is severely
compromised, you can reach them. You
can make a relationship. If I only had a
sing-along every day and I didn’t bother
about their names, lives or their past
experiences, it wouldn’t mean anything.
It would be just a sing-along. The
relationship would be missing.
Nancy: how do you preserve yourself?
Alejandro: I like playing Frisbee in the park. I play music
at home. I talk with my girlfriend about work. We share
these kinds of stories every day. She also works in a nursing
home as a music therapist.
My work keeps me going. I have learned how to truly
appreciate their responses, to savor the moments like the
one with Ilene. I leave work with a sense of satisfaction.
I know that at least while I am there things get a little bit
better in a way. I know that I make a diff erence.
Nancy: And the future?
Alejandro: I want to work with this population for the
rest of my life.
Nancy: What did you get out of the 45-hour training?
Alejandro: I learned the physical aspects of the disease
process. I learned to wait, to be patient. I learned to take
a pause, to breathe, to sense the energy of what is going on,
to be present, and to take care of myself. I also learned that
having good manners can help to build trust with these
people.
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