Wesley Village in Shelton to debut Music & Memory program

Staff and volunteers from Wesley Village complete training and instruction for Music & Memory, a personalized, therapeutic music program being introduced on the campus this summer./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - Beginning this summer, individuals struggling from dementia and other cognitive and physical impairments will now have the opportunity to reconnect with family, friends, and caregivers through Music & Memory, a personalized digital music program to be offered on the Wesley Village Campus.

“Sincere thanks to the Valley Community Foundation for making this new program possible with the help of a $4,700 grant,” says Carlene Rhea, Director of Mission Development. 

“This grant enables our senior care campus to purchase iPods and other technology needed for music collection and storage and costs associated with staff training and instruction.” 

Rooted in extensive neuroscience research, the Music & Memory approach involves training care professionals to set up personalized music playlists, delivered on iPods and other digital devices, for those in their care. These musical favorites can then tap deep memories not lost to dementia, which enable patients and residents to converse, socialize, stay present, and feel like themselves again.

After completing three days of training with staff and volunteers, Wesley Village is the first Music & Memory Certified Care Facility in the Valley and one of only a few in the State of Connecticut. The Music & Memory program will be implemented first at their new Lifestyle Transitions memory care neighborhood on the campus and then in the Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center.  

For more information about Music & Memory and the life-changing benefits of personalized therapeutic music, visit www.musicandmemory.org.

About Wesley Village:

Wesley Village is a campus of senior care communities including Crosby Commons Assisted Living Community, Wesley Heights Assisted and Independent Living Apartments and Cottages, Lifestyle Transitions Memory Care at Wesley Heights, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center. 
The campus is owned and operated by UMH, a local, faith-based, not-for-profit organization serving all members of the community and is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. To learn more about the continuum of care offered at Wesley Village or the mission of UMH, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org or contact Lisa Bisson, 203-225-5024.

About the Valley Community Foundation:

Established in 2004, the Valley Community Foundation distributes hundreds of thousands of grant dollars each year to support the local nonprofit sector and the people it serves. In addition to grantmaking, VCF works in strong partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, to promote philanthropy in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton. 
To learn how your gifts of cash, life insurance, appreciated stocks, bonds, real estate, and other assets can help to support the quality of life in the Valley, visit www.valleyfoundation.org or contact VCF President, Sharon Closius, at sclosius@valleyfoundation.org or 203-751-9162.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.