Alzheimer’s Association to Fund Music and Memory Program at Brandywine Senior Living South Jersey

Ana de Barros, PhD avatar

by Ana de Barros, PhD |

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Brandywine Senior Living, a leading provider of quality care and services to seniors, has just partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter to remind its residents living with this neurodegenerative disease of the joy of listening to music. Thanks to generous funding from the Association, residents will soon rediscover the therapy of music through the “Music and Memory” program.

The grant will cover music and memory training, support for the program, as well as free iPods for 25 to 30 residents with moderate to late stage Alzheimer’s disease. Brandywine will be working exclusively with the Association to launch this program in 4 senior communities in South Jersey: Brandall Estates, Moorestown Estates, Haddonfield, and Voorhees.

“We are honored the Delaware Valley Chapter chose Brandywine to collaborate on this initiative. Music is such a wonderful method to engage and emotionally connect with individuals who may struggle with communication, group engagement or self-expression. Implementing an individualized music program is a simple and useful approach for families and caregivers to create a magical and memorable moment for a loved one,” said Maria Nadelstumph, Vice President of Organizational Development & Program Excellence at Brandywine Senior Living.

This partnership will revolve around building and maintaining a working relationship between the medical staff, residents and their families in order to note which artists, songs, and genres will resonate most with each resident. While music therapy may seem like a simple activity, studies have shown that patients derive many benefits from it, ranging from comfort, enjoyment, all the way to a reduction in feelings of isolation, anxiety, and agitation.

Director Programs & Services, Krista McKay added, “The Chapter puts a lot of hard work in providing the best in support services for the community and this program allows us to show how the use of music can be a great outlet for families and individuals suffering with Alzheimer’s disease. Working with Brandywine will be a great partner for this initiative.”


In an earlier report, a recent study published in JAMA Neurology showed there is increasing interest in diagnostic markers/proteins that can prove useful in predicting high risk individuals or early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, preferably before the appearance of symptoms. That can leave room for higher efficacy of current and future therapies.