Jim, a person with dementia, gifts wife, Linda, a song of thanks for her caregiving

Love & Dementia: Music Puts Words to a Thankless Job
A 24/7 “job” with no pay or vacation days sounds daunting but a “thank you” can go a long way, notably for caregivers to individuals with dementia. Add music to those thanks, and you just may have the gift of understanding. Understanding what it’s like to care for someone with a memory disorder.
That’s how Linda Loane felt when her husband, Jim, invited her to his session with Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health music therapist Becky Wellman, PhD, and broke into a song he had written for Linda, calling out her tireless caregiving efforts on his behalf.
The lyrics, “It gets harder day by day. I see your struggle. And dedication just for me,” struck a chord with Linda, whose caregiving burdens have progressed over the past seven years along with Jim’s Lewy body dementia, which has entered their relationship as a third participant of sorts,
which the couple refers to as “Lewy.”
“This song,” says Linda, “it’s not Lewy talking. It’s Jim. The kind, considerate
man I married 46 years ago.”
Says Dr. Wellman, “Quite a few patients write songs for their families.” She
collaborates with her patients, providing the musical score.
Interested in trying out music therapy?
Group sessions are free and meet every weekday afternoon. Learn more at
clevelandclinic.org/NevadaEvents.

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Beautiful