​LITA of Contra Costa “Love Is the Answer”'s   Music Awakenings Ipod Compassion Project benefits selected seniors who live in 25 LITA-served Contra Costa & 3 Alameda County Nursing Hospital.  Based on the work and research of Oliver Sachs (See "Alive Inside" , the documentary on Netflix ) LITA supports Music and Memory certification while providing as many seniors as possible as soon as possible with relief and joy.

 

Recipients are very elderly and may be disabled, often suffering from aphasia, dementia or Alzheimer’s.  Each LITA volunteer may program music for one or more senior resident. A LITA interview determines era of music and recording artists favored. ( Care Facility Staff assist when resident cannot speak.)  LITA Music Awakening  Volunteers program an iPod with 2 to 3 hours of specially chosen music determined after LITA interview, for one selected individual resident.  LITA works with Activity staff on care and handling of the iPod which is dedicated  for enjoyment of that  facility resident.

 

Researching and programming music for the resident is vital,  but it is only one possible kind of volunteer activity.  LITA is always seeking gently used iPods or other workable digital recording devices to gift within this project.   Finding equipment, recorders, chargers and earphones for this project is a vital and ongoing volunteer & LITA agency activity. Students may earn credit of 1 hour for time spent locating  or rebuilding one used Ipod for this program. (New Ipod =2 hours) Charger & soft headphones are worth 1 hour. a donated iPOd with custom senior programming completed deserves a 3 hours volunteer credit time.

 

iPod donors get a Tax Deductible Contribution receipt from LITA of Contra Costa. Volunteers may find used iPods on Ebay and Amazon or elsewhere.  An iPod shuffle is a good example of a device that works well for a senior. The   average cost of a used iPod  Shuffle may be around $35 - $45.  Combined cost for headphones & charger  together can be found for about $40).

 

In line with  Oliver Sachs and parallelling results in Dan Cohen's Music and Memory program, LITA's  Music Awakenings has proven that individualized iPod music greatly improves the moods of disabled and/or very elderly patients who may have very limited vision, little or no privacy or entertainment options besides communal  TV and may be physically unable leave their room. Multiple studies show free access to their favorite music, provides care facility residents relief from agitation, insomnia, sundowners & more for disabled and elderly living in nursing care facilities. Music is a wonderful& healing gift.

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OUR MISSION  LITA of Contra Costa involves community members of All Ages, educating and supporting Youth, Families and aspiring Artists for Success as Volunteer Visitors accomplishing our Mission to improve quality of life for seniors and disabled persons living in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities throughout Contra Costa and Alameda County

                                                            

Phone (510) 527-2055    or   Director’s Cell  (925) 212 4573

Office 135 Prospect Avenue , Port Costa, CA  PO Box 121  94569-0121

Web address: www.litaofcontracosta.org    Email  info@litaofcontracosta.org