As a board-certified music therapist and musician, I have 25 years of experience serving those in memory care, geriatric mental health, and hospice. I love creating music programming for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias. It is so rewarding to see the benefits music has to offer. It can:

 

• Calm and soothe anxiety and agitation

• Inspire song to those who can no longer speak

• Stir deep memories, when memory seems lost

• Increase reality orientation in the midst of confusion

• Provide a safe space for emotional expression

• Energize Movement

• Provide a sense of meaning to participants

• Re-connect people to their spiritual selves

• Support sensory integration

• Bring socialization and connection to those who are isolated

• Support the journey of caregivers and family

• Can redirect from behaviors and physical discomfort

• Bring beauty into everyday life

• Bring grounding when things don’t feel right.

 

Interventions may include (may vary by plan & group strengths):

• Music Listening (live music- occasional recordings)

• Sing-A-Long

• Call & Response Singing

• Improvisation

• Life Review & Reminiscence

• Instrument Playing

• Music & Movement

• Spiritual Themed Groups*

• Musical Entrainment

• Music Education

• Songwriting

• Drumming

• Music Assisted Relaxation / Mindfulness Meditation

• Lyric Analysis 

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Serving those in memory care is a passion for me. Every person deserves the dignity, beauty, and connection music therapy can provide. It is an honor to offer the healing, memory stirring, and heart calming presence that music can bring. I would love to work with your memory care community. I do my very best to make services affordable and effective. My rates are based on distance, group size, frequency of visits, and the physical space. I can be an occasional visitor, all the way up to providing music therapy on a monthly, every other week, or weekly basis. Rates for regularly scheduled programming are less than an occasional visit. Please feel free to reach out to me to discuss the needs of your residents.

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Phone/Text: 952-221-1857

Email: nielsenmt@msn.com

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*(individualized for diverse spiritual backgrounds as appropriate)