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6A Daily News – Tuesday, November 6, 2012 Vitalityfitness health Akron Beacon Journal (MCT) AKRON, Ohio — Sunshine spilled through the windows. The autumn leaves cast a warm glow on the room, making it cheerful and inviting. Yet many kept their heads down and their eyes closed. & Music therapy can reawaken residents at care centers By Kim Hone-McMahan The well-stocked first-aid kit By Rene Lynch Los Angeles Times (MCT) The caregivers at the Barberton, Ohio, Pleasant View Health Care Center spoke their names, but some residents failed to respond — until the music started. Often lost in their own worlds, now they began tapping their feet. Those who are usually alert during the sessions encouraged those who are generally not. Though too exhausted to remain alert for the entire time, one elderly resident sprang into con- sciousness when she heard a favorite tune, even pretending to play the piano; perhaps it was something she did when her mind and body were whole. "I've watched very lethargic and withdrawn residents come out of their shells and connect with the world," explained certified music therapist Kathy Lindberg, who was working with the room of mostly women on a recent after- noon. "Facilities often look at the residents who are withdrawn, won't come out of their rooms, or sleep their lives away, to come to this kind of therapy." In Oliver Sacks' book "Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain," he writes about various ail- ments, including demen- MCT photo Licensed music therapist Kathy Lindberg (top right) leads residents at the Pleasant View Health Care Center in a variety of songs in Ohio. tia, and the positive effect music can have. therapy in people with dementia … seeks to address the emotions, cognitive "The aim of music thoughts, and memories, the surviving of 'self' of the patient, to stimulate these and bring them to the fore. It aims to enrich and enlarge existence, to give freedom, stability, organization, and focus." Though he admits that it might seem like a tall order in patients with advanced dementia, music therapy with such patients is possible because the perception, sensibility, emotion and memory of music can survive long after other forms of memory have disappeared. (Country star Glen Campbell, despite being diagnosed with Alzheimer's two years ago, is still per- powers, forming in a "Goodbye Tour.") kind," Sacks wrote, "can serve to orient and anchor a patient when almost nothing else can." "Music of the right resident's era seem to be key to bringing out a reaction. To see it in action, check out this YouTube clip: www.youtube.com/user/ MusicandMemory1, which shows a man whose brain is awakened by listening to his favorite songs. Popular tunes from a diate environment. They are out of that fog." That connection to music sometimes carries on to other parts of their lives — making someone alert when they were pre- viously seemingly cata- tonic. Designer Line Eyewear 30-50% off & many more 910 Main Street, Suite C, Red Bluff • (530) 527-2510 1-800-481-LENS (5367) gummsoptical.com When working with the elderly, Lindberg con- centrates on tunes that were hits in the '20s, '30s and '40s. In a few years, as more baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) move into full and assisted care facili- ties, Lindberg will switch to songs by artists such as Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. "Men and women may be sitting in a room, not knowing where or who they are, but can remem- ber the words to all their favorite songs," Lindberg said. "Making a connec- tion to something in their lives causes what I like to call 'the magic of music therapy.' "If you sing 'You Are My Sunshine,' it brings back so many memories. Then they are connecting to their world. It might be in the past, but they're communicating … and connecting to their imme- significant carryover effect of the power of music for some ailments; a Parkinson's disease patient, he wrote, can regain more coordination of his or her movements with music, but once the music stops, so too does the benefit. Sacks notes there is no "There can, however, be longer term effects of music for people with dementia — improve- ments of mood, behavior, even cognitive function — which can persist for hours or days after they have been set off by music." way that just makes them want to do things," said Vivian Cavendish, activi- ty director at Pleasant View. "It touches them in a Whether you like it or not, music is everywhere in our lives. It's played in shopping centers, at sporting events, on televi- sion and in restaurants. "I only had one resi- dent in my career who was averse to music," Lindberg said. "He hated it and avoided it the best he could. But the truth is, we all have some rela- tionship to music. You can't escape it." checked the expiration dates on the contents of your first-aid kit? Do you even have a first-aid kit? Just face it: It's time for a medicine cabinet makeover. If you're like the rest of us, you are probably miss- ing items that you or your loved ones will need in case of an injury that falls short of requiring a visit to the emergency room. And, like the rest of us, your bathroom cabinets are likely filled with items that have outlived their "use by" dates, potentially making them less potent or perhaps even danger- ous. While a recent study by the California Poison Control System suggested that many drugs past their expiration date are still effective, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not mince words on its website: "Once the expiration date has passed, there is no guarantee that an expired medicine will be safe and effective. If your medicine has expired, do not use it." Now, there's no need to panic, of course. You're meticulous about monitoring the expiration dates on milk cartons. You carefully check sell-by dates before putting meat in your shop- ping cart. And you take a moment to scan cans, bot- tles and jars for their "best before" dates. But have you ever But consider this your nudge to take stock of your family's medicine cabinet and see what might need replacing. Make a list, keep your eyes peeled for coupons and sales on the items your family is most likely to need. You could also take the easy way out and just buy a trauma kit (they are often better stocked than a routine first-aid kit), and then buy a few more items to round out your supplies. Need any more incen- tive? Think about how much better equipped you'll feel about treating your sick spouse or kiddo with all the necessary items well redbluff.mercy.org www.redbluff.mercy.org Cardiac Support Group Community Basic Life Support SOI Candle Sale Grief Support Group Waterbirth Class Weekend Childbirth Class Diabetic Education 6pm-8:30pm 11/12 Columba 6pm-10pm 7am-3pm 3pm-5pm 11/13 Columba 6:30pm-8:30pm 11/14 Columba 6pm-9pm 11/16 9am-3pm Columba 11/17 12:30pm-4:30pm 11/28 Columba www.redbluff.mercy.org 529-8026 527-5077 529-8026 11/14 Hallway by Café Open to the public! Thursday Coyne Center 528-4207 529-8026 529-8026 organized, easily within reach and safely within their expiration dates. Here are the items a well- stocked medicine cabinet should contain, plus a few items you'll be happy you have on hand. (If there are items we've overlooked, please leave a comment on the online version of this story, so we can add them to our list.) a variety of shapes and sizes. (If you have kids, Mickey Mouse or Hello Kitty bandages can't hurt.) Bandages and gauze in Anti-bacterial spray and/or ointment. to relieve itching. Tweezers and scissors. Hydrocortisone cream, It's worth springing for precision tools (some- thing you already know if you've remove a splinter from a squirming toddler). An instant-read ther- ever tried to mometer. Shop around, read reviews and consider what might work best for your family. A thermome- ter with an ear scan fea- ture, for example, might be helpful when you want to take a temperature without waking up a sick child who has finally fall- en asleep. Cough drops and cough syrup An over-the-counter allergy medication. Cold reliever and sleep enhancer such as NyQuil, or a generic-brand equiva- lent. Believe it or not, this can expire too, losing its effectiveness over time. Cold pack. In a pinch, a bag of frozen peas will do. But it's helpful to have something a bit more durable. Keep this in the freezer, of course, so it's ready to go. Rubbing alcohol. Heating pad. Probably not standard fare for an emergency kit, but it might be soothing for an aching back or flu- induced chills. A first-aid guide or pamphlet. You can find these online or perhaps at your doctor's office. And, in a pinch, you can always look something up online. But it's nice to have a primer at your fingertips when you're trying to remember the best way to treat a burn or sprained ankle, or what R.I.C.E. stands for. (That would be rest, ice, compression, elevation — the course of treatment for minor soft- tissue injuries.) Red Bluff Location Saturday, October 20th 9am to 1pm Saturday, November 10th 9am to 1pm 2450 Sister Mary Columba Drive Red Bluff, Ca 96080 527-0414 Lassenmedical.com www.lassenmedial.com A laminated list of phone numbers and addresses and perhaps even a map including directions to your doctor and the nearest emer- gency room. (Also con- sider adding the same information for your vet- erinarian and a 24-hour emergency vet — helpful in case someone is house- sitting for a pet and is not familiar with the area.) Eyewash, for soothing an eye that has become irritated after an afternoon cleaning out the garage. Gloves, eye protection and a mouth guard you can use in case you need to perform CPR. you're not certified, get certified. Many communi- ty centers offer classes, or contact the Red Cross for a class list. It takes just a few hours, and you'll learn first-aid basics and CPR. You'll never regret knowing how to treat an injury or save a life in case of an emergency. Speaking of CPR: If