OCTOBER 2015

Virginia Music Therapist Uses Remo Drum Technology To Help Seniors With Alzheimer’s Remo Inc

Hello! This issue of Health Beat is being sent to you courtesy of Becky Watson, Owner of Music for Wellness, Enriching the Mind, Body and Spirit with MUSIC. It is our way of saying that you are important to us and we truly value serving you. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to friends and neighbors. Enjoy!

Comfort Sound Technology Posted by: Melissa Lampert in Health And Beauty, Santa Clarita Latest News August 28, 2015 - 10:00 am A music therapy program in Norfolk, Virginia is using the power of rhythm to help improve the lives of seniors living with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by utilizing a new drum technology designed to be accessible for individuals with disabilities. Released earlier this year by the Santa Clarita-based drum manufacturer Remo Inc., Comfort Sound Technology is a drumhead composite material that delivers a unique quality of sound by suppressing high-frequency overtones. “I’m always adding more (Comfort Sound Technology) drums to my collection because they’re just so accessible and my older adult population just loves them,” said Becky Watson, a board-certified music therapist and owner of Music for Wellness in Norfolk. “If you play a really loud drum, it can really agitate their hearing, but the Comfort Sound

Famous Quotes

Technology is not very loud… It’s not overbearing. It feels good.” Remo Inc

Good health is not something we can buy. However, it can be an extremely valuable savings account.

Music for Wellness provides evidence-based music therapy and wellness programs for seniors affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, with a goal of using music to reach non-musical goals. Continued on Page 2

—Anne Wilson Schaef But the real secret to lifelong good health is actually the opposite: Let your body take care of you.

Spirit of Hope Foundation Award Honorees Norfolk, VA

—Deepak Chopra Be silent and safe—silence never betrays you. —John Boyle O’Reilly If we want to embrace life, we also have to embrace chaos. —Susan Elizabeth Phillips The professional has learned that success, like happiness, comes as a by-product of work. The professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not come, whatever they like. —Steven Pressfield There is more to life than making a living, don’t work more than you live. —Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Pictured Above: It was a honor to receive the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award at during the Still Hope Celebrity Event at Nauticus, Norfolk. Picture with Monica Brothers and Tony Brothers, and Honorees.

What Our Customers Say

We are so fortunate to have the best customers in the world! Many of them write to tell us how much they enjoyed Music for Wellness outreach programs Veterans, Community Heroes, and Retirees. "It was wonderful to see how well the residents stayed engaged, played instruments and responded after Becky’s Music Wellness program! Thank you - Cecilia, Warwick Forest Dietician

“The real key for music therapy, and a music therapist, is the relationship that the music therapist has intentionally using the music to reach non-musical goals,” Watson explained. “Physical goals, process skills, language, expressive communication– those kinds of things.”

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Drumming can be a powerful tool for music therapists like Watson, who compared the “primitive” sound of the drum to the sound of a mother’s heartbeat for a baby in the womb. A retired Navy captain, Watson realized her passion for music therapy during the final days she spent with her own mother in hospice, which were filled with comforting songs Watson played on her guitar. “The guitar was so soothing for my mother, but especially for me, and that’s when I knew this is what my calling was,” Watson recalled. “It helped me personally, and I had this drive and passion to help others experience joy, because that’s one thing my mother always had. Even though she lived only 60 years, she lived every minute to the fullest, and that’s why I encourage my clients who are living with dementia and Alzheimer’s (to) live in the moment.” Seniors participating in the Music for Wellness program not only enjoy the comfortable sound produced by Comfort Sound Technology drums, but the tactile stimulation of touching the drums as well. “They love the sound and the texture,” Watson said. “It’s a thicker drumhead, but it feels good. A lot of my clients don’t see very well, but they love to feel it.”

Pictured Above: Ashley Britt, Activity Director, Warwick Assisted Living during a Music Wellness program, Newport News, VA

What’s Becky up to: Oct 2: Spring Arbor Memory Care Music Wellness session, Williamsburg Oct 4: Knights of Columbus Family Picnic, Norfolk Oct 5: Harbor’s Edge Memory Support, Norfolk Oct 6, 14, 16, 22, 28: Adult Day Care, Innovative Senior Champion Program, Williamsburg Oct 7-9: Dream Biz Academy, Annapolis, MD Oct 10-11: Flip Your 9 to 5 Event, Tampa, FL Oct 13: EVMS Grand Rounds, Norfolk Oct 13: Beth Sholom, Memory Enrichment VB Oct 15, 29: Village at Wood’s Edge, Franklin, VA Oct 17: Walk to End Alzheimer’s Walk, Newport News Oct 19: Warwick Forest Assisted Living, Newport News, Oct 22, 27: Williamsburg United Methodist Respite Sessions, Williamsburg Oct 24: Walk to End Alzheimer’s Walk, Williiasmburg Oct. 31: Halloween Trick or treat!

Though Watson has only been using Comfort Sound Technology for about a year, time and time again she has witnessed the astounding physical and emotional benefits of rhythm in people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. “I am just so honored and passionate about how music, specifically drumming, energizes, empowers, engages and just brings pure joy to those individuals who may not have a lot of joy in their life, especially as they have cognitive decline,” she said. “It’s just so fascinating to see how drumming and rhythm really brings them out of their shell.” Article may be found: http://www.hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-latest -news/virginia-music-therapist-uses-remo-drum-technology-to-helpseniors-with-alzheimers-158954

October 31, 2015 Since the 800s, November 1st is a religious holiday known as All Saints' Day. The Mass performed on this day was called Allhallowmas. The evening before became known as All Hallow e'en, or Halloween. Its origins lie in both pre-Christian and Christian customs. - The first Jack-O-Lanterns were actually made of turnips. - The word “witch” comes from the Old English wicce, meaning “wise woman.”

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Days of Interest Emergency Nurses Week, Oct. 11-17. Sponsored by the Emergency Nurses Association, which represents the approximately 180,000 emergency nurses in the U.S. who save lives and render aid on a 24/7 basis.

Samhainophobia is the fear of Halloween.

- The owl is a popular Halloween image. In Medieval Europe, owls were thought to be witches hearing an owl meant someone was about to die.

- The largest pumpkin ever measured was grown by Norm Craven, who broke the world record in 1993 with an 836-lb. pumpkin. ++++++++++++++++++++++++=

.COLUMBUS DAY

Earth Science Week, Oct. 11-17. An international event to help the public gain a better understanding and appreciation for the Earth sciences and to encourage stewardship of the Earth.

October 12, 2015

Columbus Day is celebrated the 2nd Monday in October and celebrates Christopher Columbus, the who is considered first to discover the America’s. As Columbus was Italian, it was the Italian population in New York City that first celebrated his discovering the Americas in 1866. It caught on and other Italian communities in other states started celebrating Columbus Day as well. Colorado was the first state to officially call it a holiday in 1905. It wasn’t until President Franklin Roosevelt, in 1937, proclaimed that every October 12th is Columbus Day. Since 1971, it was declared that Columbus Day be celebrated on the second Monday of October.

Music for Wellness creates music products and programs to enhance the quality of life in supporting the health and wellbeing of veterans, community heroes and retirees. We strongly believe our mind, body, and spirit can be enriched with MUSIC! Some of the Services We Offer … 

Group Music for Wellness Empowered Rhythm Events

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Key Note Speaker

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Music Therapy sessions

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Consulting & Program Development

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In-service & Professional Development

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Organist & Pianist for Spiritual Settings

Tell a friend! A referral from one of our satisfied clients is the greatest compliment we can receive, and we have a unique (and generous!) way of saying thank you! Please call us for details! We are eco-friendly...if you would like to receive the Health Beat Newsletter in electronic form (to be taken off printed copy), please send us an email.

Email: [email protected] Phone: (757) 563-3488

Respiratory Care Week, Oct. 25-31. An annual event that recognizes the respiratory care profession and promotes awareness of lung health issues and practices.

International Music Day, Oct. 1. Initiated in 1975 by Yehudi Menuhin to encourage and foster musical diversity worldwide.

World Teachers’ Day, Oct. 5. Celebrating the dedication and commitment of the world’s teachers, and spotlighting the shortage of teachers needed to achieve the goal of universal primary education by 2030.

Day of the Girl, Oct. 11. Established by the United Nations to “help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.”

National Fossil Day, Oct. 14. A celebration organized by the National Park Service to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils.

Halloween, Oct. 31. Trick or treat!

Music for Wellness, LLC Becky Watson, MBA, MT-BC P.O. Box 9372 Norfolk, VA 23505 music4wellness.net [email protected] Good news and information for the friends and clients of Music for Wellness, LLC

October 2015

Simple Tips for Budget-wise Healthy Eating Healthy eating can be difficult at the best of times with all of the conflicting information out there, but when you are on a tight budget, it can be even more difficult, with the foods that are best for you often far more expensive than the less nutritious alternatives. The good news is there are ways to shop wiser and eat healthier. One good tip is purchasing produce that is currently in season. The price of in-season fruits and vegetables drops during these times because they are more readily available. Happily, they are also at their most nutritious and flavorsome during this period. Melons, organic strawberries, apricots, cherries, peaches, and plums are in season during summer. Another good tip is to buy in bulk. Purchasing enormous quantities of staple food requirements such as beans, grains, oils, and spices can help save a lot of money in the long term as well as cutting down waste and spoilage and eliminating unnecessary packaging. Grains like barley, quinoa, and rice are particularly good to buy in bulk as they double in size after cooking. Becky’s Key Notes

Hello the wonderful autumn month of October!! The weather is cooler and leaves are changing colors. September was a wonderful month with celebrations, picnics and events. It was such ah honor to receive the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award during the Still Hope Foundation Celebrity Weekend. Still Hope Foundation seeks to assist single mothers in building a strong and successful family by offering quality resources and supportive relationships. We are also excited to share the power of rhythm and music with additional memory care facilities serving older adults and their care partners living with dementia. Due to the growth of memory care faculties, I am no longer teaching private music lessons … it was a difficult decision to make as I love sharing the joy of music with everyone! Rod’s position as the Grand Knight of Council 367 is keeping him busy and his business, WatsonMarketingSolutions, continues to grow. Andrew is a Senior at Bishop Sullivan Catholic HS and Jessica is a 6th grader at Christ the King.

Interested in Group Empowerment Drumming?

Contact us immediately for a trial demonstration for your group event, conference, retreat, meeting, etc… we will customize a group drumming program tailored to meet your needs, your satisfaction guaranteed. (757) 563-3488

Email: [email protected]

COPYRIGHT 2015

DESIGNED BY: MUSIC4WELLNESS, LLC

Be Alert to the Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease More than five million people live with Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S. It’s an affliction that can’t be diagnosed with a blood test or a brain scan, so doctors and patients depend on behavioral clues to determine whether someone is suffering from it. An early diagnosis can help with treatment and care, pay attention to warning signs from Alzheimer’s Association: • Changes in memory that disrupt daily activities • Difficulty solving problems or making plans • Problems performing familiar tasks at work or at home • Confusion over places and times • Problems processing visual images and spatial relationships • Growing difficulties with writing and speaking • Losing items/getting lost outside • Difficulty making decisions/questionable judgment • Growing withdrawal from social activities at home and work • Sudden mood swings or changes in personality If you or a loved one begins exhibiting a number of these symptoms, consult with your doctor. Although Alzheimer’s has no cure, many treatments can delay its onset and provide a meaningful quality of life for years. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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