Elderly Man In Nursing Home Reacts To Music From His Era

I found this video to be simply fascinating.  I've had a couple of similar experiences over the years when I have performed music for senior adults in nursing home / long term care facilities.  They will be unresponsive, until I sing a song from "back in their day."  It's pretty amazing to watch them when they seem to "come alive." 

Many years ago, I sang at a memory care center in Georgetown, Texas.  Back then, I always finished my program with the old gospel hymn, "The Great Physician."  An elderly woman was slumped into a wheelchair at the back of the room next to the nurses station.  Her eyes were glazed.  She was physically alive, and perhaps that was about it. When I began to sing, "The Great Physician," she sat up in her wheelchair and sang every word with me in a voice as clear as the ringing of a bell.

Sweetest note in seraph song . . .
Sweetest name on mortal tongue . . .
Sweetest carol ever sung . . .
Jesus blessed Jesus. 

Many of the staff, who were present at that moment, began to cry.  I did as well. At the time I didn't know what was going on.  Before I left the facility, one of the therapists explained what they believe had happened, and that it is a blessed moment when one of the older men or women can temporarily leave the prison that their minds and bodies become due to old age and health related issues.

If you can sing . . . go out and sing.  It may be a very special blessing.

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>