Hymns, hits and helping hands: Church's program helps Alzheimer's patients and caregivers revive memories, connections

Wayne Evans, founder of "Let's Sing From Memory," makes rowing motions with Semmie Brown's hands while the group sings "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore."

Kenneth Morick is a World War II veteran who was among the 156,000 troops landing on the beaches of Normandy in June 1944. The 92-year-old is a D-Day survivor ... yet doesn't remember his role in history.

A violinist in his younger years, Morick picked up his instrument after the war and began playing again. He was talented enough to win the concertmaster's seat in a Southern California orchestra. But he doesn't play anymore.

The Army vet is engaged in a battle with Alzheimer's disease -- the insidiously progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills. But in the last couple of months, the violinist's innate love of music has resurfaced, astounding and delighting his daughter.

Cynthia Hallenbeck says she began taking her dad to "Let's Sing from Memory," a musical group for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers, at the first of this year. The singalongs meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at Christ United Methodist Church in East Brainerd.

"Dad was never one to sing anything, even in church 30 or 40 years ago. When we first came, he just sat and didn't participate. But he started to hum to the music one day, and it floored me when it happened because he has never done that," says Hallenbeck.

Those quick, emotional glimpses that a caregiver gets of the mother, father or spouse they "used to know" are what motivated Wayne Evans to found "Let's Sing from Memory," which uses music to help revive memories and connections between dementia patients and their loved ones. He describes it as a support group for folks with Alzheimer's as well as their caregivers, but the church outreach is more multifaceted.

The 90-minute gatherings -- in which everyone sings along to Top 40 golden oldies and hymns of their childhood -- provide needed socialization for both the patient and caregiver, he says. Along with stimulating the Alzheimer's patients' memory, the songfests offer caregivers a way to network with others who are coping with the same problems.

The concept is based on Alzheimer's Association research that has shown the parts of the brain that remember words and tunes are among the last to be affected by the disease. People also associate music with important events and emotions, a connection so strong, just hearing a familiar tune long after the occurrence can still evoke that memory, according to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

"One thing we love about this opportunity is that 'Let's Sing From Memory' gives the caregiver and the person with dementia an activity they can do together," says Amy French, manager of programs and education for the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. "Alzheimer's is a very socially isolating disease and, even with memory deficits, social needs are still very strong for the person with dementia and certainly their caregiver."

"Let's Sing From Memory" marked its first anniversary this month. Evans launched the group after learning about a similar program in the United Kingdom and called "Singing for the Brain."

French adds that, even though "Let's Sing From Memory" is not an Alzheimer's Association program, "we support it and partner with them to promote it and to make sure it is executed in a legitimate manner."

"We've worked with Wayne and the folks at Christ United Methodist since they started," she continues. "Wayne has been very careful to make sure their volunteers are well-trained. I have done regular training with them to make sure they understand the needs of people with dementia. This group is dedicated, well-organized and trained. That's a lot of the key to the success of their program."

Helen Kline, right, joins in the hand motions of "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands."

Evans began a year ago with a half-dozen volunteers; now he has about 20 who rotate through on a regular basis. Volunteers provide refreshments at each gathering. On the weeks between singalongs, they meet to plan and prepare for the next week singing. For example, volunteers plan memory games such as "Name that Commercial Jingle" or flash photos of old household items (Remember the rotary phone?) up on a big screen.

The beauty of the singalong is its simplicity: Everyone joins in on the familiar songs they grew up with hearing in church and on the radio. Caregivers and patients sit side by side in a big semicircle, but it's not an adult day care where the caregiver can drop off the loved one and come back in an hour. They must participate together.

The level of dementia in those attending ranges from newly diagnosed to advanced stages. But who can tell? Everyone is participating in some way, whether singing or just smiling and listening.

Lyrics are flashed up on a large screen facing the singers. Sometimes there are taped tracks to accompany songs, at other times Sandy Lemons plays guitar. Volunteers Genie Williams and Wilma Carter lead the singalongs from the center of the floor.

The set list at the anniversary singalong included hymns of faith such as "Because He Lives" and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and also Top 40 hits like "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" and "Lazy River," a hit for the Mills Brothers in 1952.

Volunteer Sani Cato, center, leans in to sing with Cola and Henry Harris. "I love to sing. Henry loves to sing, so I've been bringing him for a year," Cola says. "His doctor says this will stimulate his brain."

Volunteers don't just stand idly by until the singing concludes. They walk around the circle, interacting with singers, hugging friends, encouraging everyone to join in. They clap in rhythm to "Rocky Top"; they take the hands of dementia patients and help them row their arms in time with "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore."

"We are communicating with them and with each other," says Evans. "It's a fun way for the caregiver to get out and enjoy time with their loved one. Caregivers lose social contact because they can't go with their loved ones to a restaurant anymore, friends don't ask them over. This is a place where the caregiver can come and be free not have to worry about their loved ones acting out."

An unexpected bonus of this outreach, Evans says, has been the formation of a new support group for patients in early stage Alzheimer's and their caregivers. It meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the church and is led by French.

"It's different because couples have to feel comfortable talking about the illness. You can't be in denial," says Evans. "We don't talk about Alzheimer's during our singings, but it's out there. It's an epidemic. Let's not hide it."

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.