Jean Hynd has a hard time remembering the day-to-day, but when she hears a special a song, she can recall emotional memories.
It’s a response that starts almost immediately when she listens to her playlist. It’s filled with music she used to listen to.
“When we all lived in Scotland, my mom used to play music for us,” she says.
Hynd is part of a new iPod program at Chartwell Georgian Traditions Retirement Residence in Collingwood. The program is designed to help residents with dementia.
“It can help preserve memories, it gets people reminiscing,” says Dawn Wiggins, memory living manager. “You'll have people that don't talk normally, having conversations.”
Staff say dementia typically attacks the left side of the brain first – the side that deals with language and comprehension. The right side, the emotional and creative side, deals with music.
"It touches the part of the brain that's remaining, and that's why it works."
Staff at the retirement residence say they hope eventually everyone living here will have their own Ppod curated with music.
The hope is that as many people as possible will reconnect with memories and moments the way Hynd is.
