members after our “When Swing Was King” shows that we present at senior care facilities.
“Thank you so much. I absolutely loved it! You brought back so many memories and feelings. Please come back soon!”
“Oh, that was such wonderful music. And the pictures! Oh my; we always have such fun when you come. We are so grateful to you both.”
“What a blessing you two are to us. The music and the pictures and all the interesting things you tell us about the songs and musicians -- they’re all so nice. Thank you for putting so much work into these programs...and just for us!”
And we get to experience such kindness and appreciation several times every month. Neat, huh?
Of course, as you might guess, there are a lot of other things we hear too. We enjoy residents’ stories about families, careers, dancing and romancing, war, travels, changes, triumphs and loss, happiness and sorrow. It is a great blessing to us to connect.
Oh yes, let me not leave out another of the most common responses to “When Swing Was King” that we hear; namely, “I knew every one of those songs!” This confident assertion is usually delivered with a big grin, but sometimes it’s with a pensive gaze as they are looking back into their history. In either mood, it is a heartwarming thing for us to hear for we know it stands as a positive testimony to the significance of the lives they have lived. Yes, the world may have passed them by and it doesn’t rate highly the times they lived, the achievements they made, or the culture they built. But suddenly, when Helen Forrest or the Mills Brothers begin to sing or the orchestras of Glenn Miller or Harry James begin to play, they remember, “Yes, we were there. Life wasn't always easy and we worked hard. But we were once young and there were good times too. We appreciated them and we miss them. And, even if no one else is around with whom I shared those days, these songs (and the pictures too) help me to remember and cherish them anew.”
Therefore, it is no wonder they are so sincerely grateful for Claire’s and my efforts to keep the music and memories of earlier times vibrant, fun, and available to them. No wonder they so quickly become both fans of “When Swing Was King” and our friends. They know that, in bringing this program to them, we are sharing with them an abiding respect for the remarkable musical arts of the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s -- and sometimes even the 1960s -- and that we’re showing our abiding respect for them too.
“I knew every one of those songs” thus becomes the highest compliment they could bestow on “When Swing Was King.” It is their warmhearted acknowledgement that each song we selected was relevant and appreciated. But there is yet another angle relevant here. Consider how many residents of a senior living facility struggle with memory loss. Sure, that’s an inevitable part of physical aging and little can be done about that. However, some of the memory loss (along with problems of boredom, loss of self-esteem, depression) can also derive from isolation and other lifestyle changes that have reduced mental stimulation. And, in such cases, even something as simple as “When Swing Was King” can be of help, For the music, the visuals, the stories, and the personal interactions which make up this unique outreach provide seniors a variety of entertaining, effective memory stimulants.
Everyone finds satisfaction in remembering. Everyone likes to scratch the itch, to fill the hole, to put back in their mind that elusive item that’s just past their reach. But for seniors, those who live daily with various levels of the frustration of forgetfulness, how terrific it is to discover that, by golly, “I knew every one of those songs!” It’s a vindication, a proof that not everything has slid into the mist. It’s a nice scratch to the itch.
Would you like to join us in this pleasant process of stimulating, reminding, befriending seniors? The monthly schedule for "When Swing Was King" is always up at the Vital Signs website. We (and they!) would love to have you come along for a show now and again. And, even if you can’t join us in person, you can certainly keep “When Swing Was King” and all of the other services of Vital Signs Ministries in your frequent prayers. That makes a big difference too.
