Chris Hartzog » Dementia/Alzheimer’s

Caregiving Web Ring

chartzog — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 03:02:56 +0000

My web site is part of the Caregiving web ring of support. Their motto says, “We connect sites created for and by family caregivers.”

Feel free to drop by and look around. You can find the web ring here: http://www.webring.org/hub?ring=caregiving

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Sock Hop at the Nursing Home

chartzog — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 03:07:18 +0000

Here are some pic’s from my latest show on that real rarity of a date “10-10-10″ today at a memory care unit. A nice staff member volunteered to take some photos for me, so here you go. I had a much bigger crowd this month compared to last month. It must be because today [...]

Music And The Alzheimer's Mind

chartzog — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:21:38 +0000

I found a great post over at “Senior Home Care Information” called “Alzheimer’s: Old music, new songs” with a couple of paragraphs I have reposted below. This article caught my eye because when I have sung and performed at nursing homes I too have witnessed this very same phenomenon. Previously unresponsive residents suddenly perk [...]

New Facebook Page

chartzog — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 01:34:04 +0000

This is just a mini post to let you know about my New Facebook Fan Page for my music in support of autism and disabilities: Here is the link – Kilika Music Facebook Page

Music and the Brain

chartzog — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:27:43 +0000

The AP published an interesting article recently describing the links found in the brain between music and words including the possiblity that intense therapy with music might improve speech in not only stroke patients, but in individuals with autism as well. It’s nice to know that what my wife and I have known instinctively [...]

Music for Caregivers

chartzog — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:38:16 +0000

My mission is to provide “Music for Caregivers” to integrate into the lives of people living in nursing homes and to those with physical, developmental or neurological disabilities living in our world.

This page and web site is a place for anyone interested in bringing music into a care-giving environment. Care-giving environments can be [...]

Resources For Caregivers

chartzog — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:34:13 +0000

With the aging of our population there has been a increased need for caregivers, either professional, or those who fill the role out of love due to an aging spouse, parent or loved one. There is also a large population of caregivers of disabled children, afflicted with various things such as autism, mental retardation, [...]

New Alzheimer’s Research Published

chartzog — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:45:47 +0000

The National Institutes of Health is reporting this month that researchers have made significant progress in coming up with a test to both diagnose Alzheimer’s earlier as well as to monitor the progress of the disease over time. “This effort may open the door to the discovery of an entire panel of cerebrospinal fluid [...]

Increased Risk of Death in Elderly Patients Taking Conventional Antipsychotics for Dementia

chartzog — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:55:20 +0000

The FDA has issued new warnings that conventional antipsychotic drugs can increase the risk of death in elderly patients with dementia. You can view the FDA health warning video here.

FDA is requiring that “conventional” antipsychotic drugs carry a boxed warning stating that these drugs increase the risk of death when they are used [...]

Nursing Home Music Flyer

chartzog — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:47:45 +0000

I have added a link to my nursing home music flyer and posted it on my site. The fall is when I begin planning my schedule for the coming year. If you have an interest in having me perform at your facility during 2009, please contact me so I can get you on my [...]

Music for Alzheimer's and Autism All at Once

chartzog — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:04:25 +0000

I sang at the Clare Bridge at Silver Lake Alzheimer’s/Memory Care facility on Sunday, August 3rd. Not only was my audience a group of residents living with Alzheimers and dementia, but my daughter who is on the autism spectrum attended along with my wife. I have read that people living with memory impairments such [...]

What is Autism?

chartzog — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:00:29 +0000

From the Wikipedia entry:

Autism is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, and causes restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old. This set of signs distinguishes autism from milder autism spectrum disorders (ASD) such as Asperger syndrome.[2]

Autism has a strong genetic basis, although [...]

Refining My Niche

chartzog — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:37:50 +0000

As time has gone along, I have seen more clearly that I cannot be all things to all people. I guess we each have our unique calling and journey we undertake as the body needs many different individual members in order to survive. So it is with me. I am finding that the thing [...]

The Developmentally Disabled Behind Bars

chartzog — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:57:14 +0000

Seattle KING5 news…

…ran this story earlier this year and I was horrified. I talked it up with some of my family and friends at the time, but now I realize that I need to get the word out to a larger audience. Part of this is because of what I have come to [...]

Do you work at Microsoft? Do you know someone with autism? or Alzheimer's?

chartzog — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:19:25 +0000

I am going to try this one more time. I know I haven’t gotten anyone’s attention yet, and that is okay. I am patient and I believe this is an idea that deserves waiting on.

Do you work for Microsoft? Do you live in the Seattle area or know someone who lives here?

Did [...]

Musing Mana 3 – Live at Clare Bridge

chartzog — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:56:27 +0000

I just finished up playing another show at Clare Bridge at Silver Lake. What a lovely facility! This was a fun show and a great way to warm up on a chilly afternoon. We all had fun doing a sing along to “You Are My Sunshine” – Thanks Governor Jimmie Davis and the [...]

Why do Music in Nursing Homes?

chartzog — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:11:16 +0000

It’s simple really. Some live music provides:

An hour of happiness in probably what seems like an eternity of pain and loneliness. (Remember – These are people who are often there against their will (for their own good and safety), who have lost their home, possibly lost a spouse, and have lost their health [...]

Concert at Clare Bridge

chartzog — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:49:30 +0000

Some photos (cheap cell phone camera quality as I forgot the real camera) taken at my first nursing home concert at Clare Bridge Silver Lake. It is an Alzheimer’s and memory residence. They have a beautiful courtyard that reminds me of Disneyland’s Main Street USA.

Music parlor…

Here’s the bus…

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