Welcome to the
Alzheimer Society Music Project
The Alzheimer Society Music Project helps individuals with dementia reconnect with the soundtrack of their lives. We provide MP3 players filled with personalized music tailored to each person's unique tastes and memories. This personalized music experience can significantly benefit those living with dementia by enhancing physical and social activity, rekindling old memories, and improving sleep, mood, cognition, communication, and overall quality of life.
The Benefits of Music
When an individual with dementia is exposed to music they listened to earlier in their lives, they may be able to recognize the song and even recall some part of the memory they previously associated with the song. The well-researched benefits of personalized music include improvements in mood, cognition, and communication; it can stimulate memories and promote relaxation.
Sharing music that is meaningful can also promote a sense of connectedness and can be a bridge between persons with dementia and family members and healthcare professionals. Indeed, overall quality of life may be improved by reducing adverse dementia symptoms and providing an enjoyable activity to engage in. In short, the Music Project provides moments of joy to those living with dementia and their care partners.
Testimonials
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The MP3 player has turned his life around! I set it to shuffle and he listens almost constantly, often until the battery dies. He sings along and even dances occasionally. It’s a joy to behold! Makes me smile. When he is more content, so am I.
Spouse of Music Recipient
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My mother is held hostage in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease and her most responsive moments occur when she has her headphones on and is listening to the music of her time.
Daughter of Music Recipient
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What a lovely beautiful surprise. I thought I won the lottery! How did you find out all the songs and singers in my time? I love it. Happiest moment of my life.
Music Recipient
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Alzheimer’s is a heartbreaking disease, and it is such a relief to be able to penetrate the darkness with the joy that music brings.
Spouse of Music Recipient
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Music is big in our home and to be able to bring music to my dad now that he’s in long-term care means a lot to me and to him.
Son of Music Recipient
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Whenever my dad listens to a particular song, all the memories connected with that song seem to come flooding back. He remembers dancing with my mother, whom he never usually speaks about.
Daughter of Music Recipient
Get Involved
Do you live in Toronto and are interested in volunteering with the Music Project? We are always looking for help to get our orders filled and to attend Community events to promote the program.
Already a Program Participant?
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Music Updates
Does your music playlist need a refresh? We can help! Click below and we’ll get started curating a new playlist for you.
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Device Replacements
Do you have a faulty music device? If so, click the button below and we get you back up and running!
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Return a Music Player
If you are ready to return your music player please contact us click below for assistance.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the land we are meeting on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg (ah-nish-naw-bek), the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee (hoodt-en-oh-show-nee) and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 (also known as the Toronto Purchase Treaty) with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
We acknowledge all Treaty peoples – including those who came here as settlers – as migrants either in this generation or in generations past - and those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly those brought to these lands as a part of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery.