The Dementia Specialist You Didn't Know You Needed
…until now (PART ONE)
It brings me such great pride to bring you this blog post.
I believe firmly in the power of the arts to lift people up, especially people experiencing dementia. Mental health support needs to continue for people experiencing dementia. While it’s not a mental illness (more about that here), it sure is a change in function that needs support processing.
That’s where the expressive therapies can come into play. They have this wonderful power to cross the dementia boundary and make people come alive again. I’ve seen people move and converse in ways they otherwise wouldn’t without the prompt of the arts.
What is that je ne sais quoi? I believe it’s in the therapist.
Want to learn more?
I’ve invited some Boston Therapists, Colleagues and Friends that are each a Dementia Specialist, to tell their point of view. This is Part One of a Two Part Blog Post. Here are three Music and Movement Therapists I’d like you to meet:
In this post you’ll meet Dementia Specialist:
Dementia Music Therapists in Boston, MA
Linda Lasalle, MA, MT-bc
I met Linda in a virtual networking group during covid times. We followed up with a Zoom and then forward two years we bump into each other at Youville Assisted Living in Lexington MA, where she runs two weekly groups on their memory support neighborhood. I heard her voice down a long hallway, and I thought to myself.. Is that Linda? We finally met in person and I was able to see her work the room! She brought the room to their feet and I think she’s a great person for you to meet as well. Here is Linda in her own words:
“Hi I’m Linda LaSalle! I provide interactive music making experiences for people with dementia. I provide my clients with small instruments such as bells, maracas and frame drums and tailor music making activities to their ability levels for maximum success! The goals are to provide opportunities for self expression, improved self esteem and connection to themselves and others. I provide plenty of warmth, humor and encouragement! Together we share in the joy of music whether it is with an individual or in a small group setting. I provide musical support in the process using my lap harp, guitar, singing or just drumming along.
Why do I do it? Well, because I get to see the transformation and joy that music brings to folks with dementia several times a day! I may walk into a room where a client is quiet and withdrawn but within minutes they are often smiling, singing and interacting with others. Being a part of making that happen for others is what motivates me!”
Contact Info
LaSalle.harpo@gmail.com
Steve Gintz MT-BC, MA, CDP
I met Steve at Lesley University, where we both pursued ours Masters in Mental Health Counseling. Steve focused on music, and I focused on art. Steve has a special energy that engages the room. I’m proud to provide him as a resource. Here’s Steve in his own words:
“I’m Steve Gintz, Founder of Instrumental Health. My company’s mission is to enrich the lives of older adults through creativity and connection.
My music enrichment groups mix the skillful application of live and recorded music with guided and creative movement, music history, discussion, and storytelling. Benefits are wide-ranging and holistic, from evoking memories and emotions to stimulating cognitive function and fostering joy. These group programs are more physical than entertainment and more engaging than exercise – enhancing physical health while building community and uplifting the spirit.
Importantly, they are tailored to meet the needs of every community and every participant, so everyone belongs, across the spectrums of cognitive and physical abilities.
From a personal standpoint, the work is incredibly rewarding. Every day brings countless moments of gratitude (and disbelief) that I get to do this work. I get to create opportunities for staff and family members to see their residents or loved ones not just existing, but vibrant and full of life.
As a business owner, I’m excited about Instrumental Health’s continued growth, as that means taking care of more folks and spreading the power of the expressive therapies. And I’m equally excited for the opportunity to help other creative professionals experience the same sense of purpose and joy that I so often do, while doing something they love.”
Contact Info
Dementia Dance Therapist in Boston, MA
Donna Newman-Bluestein M.Ed., BC-DMT, CMA
I met Donna after taking her signature training Bringing Dance to Older Adults and People with Dementia and after that I’ve been in awe of her abilities! This program is geared towards using movement with people working with seniors and people experiencing dementia. I learned so much and it informs a good bit of the foundation into why and how I use art with people experiencing dementia. I also had the pleasure of seeing her work with residents at Goddard House, and her making sure every person in our groups was engaged in a way that worked for them. She has an incredible ability to lead a group and make sure everyone feels seen. Here is Donna in her own words:
“I bring dance to people with dementia by dancing with individuals in their homes, leading groups locally, initiating and facilitating a monthly Memory Café at my local library, teaching others to lead such groups in trainings and at workshops locally, nationally, and internationally, and writing blogs, professional articles, and chapters in books. I am passionate about this work that I've been doing for the past 45 years as a dance/movement therapist because the responses I get from participants with and without dementia are extraordinary and I think if others could see their joy and vitality, they would be prescribed a daily dose of dance.
The dance I bring is improvisational where there is no right or wrong way of moving. It is our excuse for being together, being lively and spontaneous whether on our feet or in our seats, where every person contributes to a co-created experience. People don't need prior interest or experience to readily engage. As we improvise to music, both familiar and new, and respond to colorful, sensory-rich props, barriers to participation, including the inability to speak or understand verbal language, are eliminated.
As the facilitator, I lead by following, letting every person know that they are seen, heard, and appreciated. And it turns out that is the very thing that motivates them to engage and share what's important to them. In an effort to ensure that every person can participate.
I invented the Octaband® which decidedly works.
I dance with people with dementia because the experience is transformational for me every single time, even while the dance infuses participants with a sense of agency and well-being. I, and at least some of the group members, have what Csikszentmihalyi described as "the flow experience", "the sweet spot between boredom and anxiety".
Neuroscience is just now beginning to catch up to the understanding of the huge benefits that dance brings, which those of us who've been doing this work for decades know empirically. Dance helps us all connect to our bodies, minds, and spirits and to the people and world around us. It reduces our sense of isolation, replacing it with a sorely needed sense of belonging. Those connections to self and others are replicated in the brain in new neural pathways. And that's just a by-product.
How blessed am I to have found this path? Through training I hope to help others discover this path.
With gratitude,
Donna Newman-Bluestein”
Contact Info
donna@danceforconnection.com
Explanation on Credentials
Sometimes I look at professional credentials and I am confused by how and what those credentials really mean. Here’s a credential cheat sheet, for a better understanding what the credentials next to their names mean.
MA - Master’s Degree
MT-BC - Board Certified Music Therapist
CDP - Certified Dementia Practitioner
M.Ed - Master’s Degree in Education
BC-DMT - Board Certified Dance Movement Therapist
CMA - Certified Movement Analyst
Conclusion
I hope you found this blog post valuable. It’s always great to hear how other therapists are bringing joy to seniors and people experiencing dementia. I am often asked for referrals and glad to give this a home on my website for future use. Feel free to bookmark this page as a future resource.
In the next few months, there will be another blog post coming out with Expressive and Art Therapists that I’d love for you to meet! If you want to know when that one comes up, add yourself to my email list. You’ll be the first to know!
Let’s Stay in Touch!
Looking to advance your skills?
We offer Art Therapy and LMHC supervision in Massachusetts.
Fill out a form here if you’re interested in seeking supervision support.
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