Sundance Kicks Off Banner Year For Music & Memory

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) Music & Memory -- the non-profit that touches the minds of Alzheimer's patients through the power of music -- is kicking off 2014 with a big win at the Sundance Film Festival. The documentary about the program, 'Alive Inside' - which explores the extraordinary alchemy that occurs when people suffering from Alzheimer's listen to music that was relevant to them in their youth - won the Audience Award for US Documentary.



* In 2006, social worker Dan Cohen began experimenting with bringing iPods to his local New York senior care centers with personalized playlists for patients. The results he saw were incredible; the music brought patients back to their pasts, tapping deep memories not lost to dementia, enabling them to feel like themselves again, to converse, socialize and stay present. Music & Memory has come a long way since 2006, having spread to 424 centers in 37 states and eight countries.

* Now, on the heels of Sundance, Wisconsin and North Carolina have announced that government funding will be available to nursing homes in each state to implement the Music & Memory program. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has already granted certification for 100 of the nursing homes in the state to participate in the project, and intends to expand certification to 135 more facilities by this spring. North Carolina is following suit, reducing their total reliance on antipsychotic drugs for Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Music & Memory also received a grant from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey to implement the program in ten facilities.

* Additionally, Music & Memory is receiving support from members of the music industry. Kenny Chesney released a PSA for the program last year, and music labels are also getting involved, removing another cost barrier by donating free music to the program.