Philosophy Discussion Forums | A Humans-Only Club for Open-Minded Discussion & Debate

[JackDaydream]

I definitely found that when music from the past, including Bill Hailey and Frank Sinatra were played to people with dementia it had a transformational effect. It seems to enable connections with memories of the past.

I have also been involved in art therapy with dementia clients. It does seem to help some, although many are reluctant to make art. Visual art therapy may enable sensory stimulation, as well as recall of memories and enable the expression of what may be difficult to formulate in words.

[Sy Borg]

I definitely found that when music from the past, including Bill Hailey and Frank Sinatra were played to people with dementia it had a transformational effect. It seems to enable connections with memories of the past.

I have also been involved in art therapy with dementia clients. It does seem to help some, although many are reluctant to make art. Visual art therapy may enable sensory stimulation, as well as recall of memories and enable the expression of what may be difficult to formulate in words.

Yes, music evokes memories, whether you are sound of mind or not. Likewise, I guess showing people art relevant to their generation and region would be enough, without the people needing to make the art.

I'm guessing that familiarity and preferred genres would be most effective. I'm pretty sure that, if I was demented, I wouldn't much respond to pop, country music or metal. I'd need some good prog or classic instrumentals.

[JackDaydream]

One thing which I am intrigued by is a recent shift in music tastes of people who are very young. In spite of hip hop going strong I have found people of about 20 whose favourite music is from the early 20th century, especially Frank Sinatra

It has even made me wonder if the people are reincarnated from living in that era. However, that may be my overactive speculation... It may simply cycles of changes, with people having become sick of rock, metal, electro and dance etc.

I wonder how much scope there is for further innovation, especially new genres. I remember speaking to someone who played in a band, who said to me that he thought all the potential ideas had been used..That seemed 'dreadful', like the 'end of history' in music.. I like to believe there is still plenty of scope for the musical imagination and creativity.

[Sy Borg]

That seemed 'dreadful', like the 'end of history' in music.. I like to believe there is still plenty of scope for the musical imagination and creativity.

There would be more scope if people still listened to classical music, which has many more possibilities than other genres. Modern pop is pretty cynical - follow the formula - so some young people look to the past for music made from the heart. Also, pop and rock are pretty limited - mostly mid tempo 4/4 time.

[JackDaydream]

I have tried to listen to classical music a few times but it doesn't seem to do much for me at all.. It is probably because I was brought up on pop and rock and music during early years, which has a lasting influence. For some reason though people often assume that I listen to classical music and are rather surprised that my taste includes metal and punk and psychedelia.

At the moment I am suffering from severe music deprivation as I have been admitted to hospital for a second time with a chest infection. I haven't got any music to listen to. The sound on my phone is poor and my ears are blocked up anyway.

Also,.I don't have any art materials and wish to go to the shop in.tje hospital shop to buy stationary but staff won't allow me to, as my oxygen levels are so low..I have a couple of novels which staff found for me. But I I feel deprived of any artistic expression
It is as if the bottom layers of Maslow's hierarchy of needs are seen as essential but not the top ones, especially self actualization. Nurses and staff are getting annoyed with me because I am sleeping too much. From my point of view creative outlets are vital in mental wellbeing, but many do not seem to see their value.

[Sy Borg]

Poor bugger. Hospitals are BORING. I goes that is, to some extent, the point of them. The lack of stimulation lets your body rest and heal. Nothing else to do. Try to embrace the boredom.

Last time I was in hospital, I was having half a dozen hot showers per day, especially during the first few days when I could not eat anything. They were the high point of my days. When I was able, I would also get up and circumnavigate the ward, over and again. The staff didn't seem to worry about this, but I expect that I was somewhat of an irritant and they were just being nice.

If there's no other option, maybe get a pen and notepad and draw? Draw how you feel, how you want to feel, how you think you should feel, etc.

Let the nurses be annoyed. Given the usual understaffing issues, they are probably stressed. I would think that a patient who sleeps a lot would make their lives easier.

Ultimately, hospitals are character-building places, where you are forced to tolerate that which you'd normally find intolerable. At one point during my last stay I was feeling pretty ordinary and chatted with another patient. She'd been there for many months with a painful ailment, with months more and more surgeries ahead, but she was very calm and accepting of her situation. I found her to be inspirational.

[Pattern-chaser]

That seemed 'dreadful', like the 'end of history' in music.. I like to believe there is still plenty of scope for the musical imagination and creativity.

There would be more scope if people still listened to classical music, which has many more possibilities than other genres. Modern pop is pretty cynical - follow the formula - so some young people look to the past for music made from the heart. Also, pop and rock are pretty limited - mostly mid tempo 4/4 time.

All musical styles are different. Classical music is often lacking in the rhythm, for example, that 'pop' music often features heavily. Swings and roundabouts. And much variety, or possibility of variety, to be seen all around.

[JackDaydream]

To Sy Borg:
A nurse escorted me to the shop, so I did get a notebook to write and sketch in
Part of the problem has been that I am unable to talk to other patients. That is because I showed up positive for MRSA. I certainly wouldn't find half a dozen showers a day to be helpful. I can eat but don't wish it to be my highlight, especially if I don't have much space to exercise in. However, I should be grateful for my individual room as it helps for sleeping and concentrating.

When my oxygen has been really low I have had some visual hallucinations. They did remind me of art from the Tibetan and Egyptian books of the Dead. I am not saying that it signifies an afterlife as such but I can definitely see where ideas and art based on low oxygen comes from.

[JackDaydream]

To Pattern- chaser,
Hello! I am sorry to only reply by addressing you and I having a lot of problems with the layout of the new site (which is why I stopped posting).

The styles of music are so different between different genres of music and may be accessible to and generate different emotions and mental states
I have even heard that it is possible to kill through certain forms of sounds, although this is probably rare.

While I do not listen to classical music I have heard Tim Wheater perform at a few festivals. He is a flautist and developed sound healing when he was experiencing a period of some paralysis. He has made work in classical and other genres, including collaboration with Eurythmics
.

[Sy Borg]

To Sy Borg:
A nurse escorted me to the shop, so I did get a notebook to write and sketch in
Part of the problem has been that I am unable to talk to other patients. That is because I showed up positive for MRSA. I certainly wouldn't find half a dozen showers a day to be helpful. I can eat but don't wish it to be my highlight, especially if I don't have much space to exercise in. However, I should be grateful for my individual room as it helps for sleeping and concentrating.

When my oxygen has been really low I have had some visual hallucinations. They did remind me of art from the Tibetan and Egyptian books of the Dead. I am not saying that it signifies an afterlife as such but I can definitely see where ideas and art based on low oxygen comes from.

Ouch, so you not only got stuck in hospital but also contracted staph. That's unpleasant.

Eating only became the high point of my hospital stay once I was allowed to eat. Until then, I had a choice of having a hot shower or lying in bed, unable to sleep, just me and my nausea. Just writing this reminds me of the ecstasy of warm water running over my head and body at the time.

Good that you have a notebook if you have an unsatiated creative itch. Any port in a storm.