Week #21 Caregiving Toolkit

Author

Lisa Peterson
May 18, 2025

Week #21

Judy Garland/Mormon Tabernacle Covered Songs

This is week 21 of the year and we will be celebrating some of the songs that Judy Garland and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir covered by delving into the songs and applying concepts to create more joy and connection during caregiving routines with music.

The songs are:

  • Alexander’s Ragtime Band

  • Battle Hymn of the Republic

  • Chicago

  • Danny Boy

  • For Me and My Gal

  • You Made Me Love You

  • America the Beautiful

  • Caissons Song 

  • Shenandoah 

  • Simple Gifts

  • When Johnny Comes Marching Home 

  • Yankee Doodle

SING ALONG

Featured Song

BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC

“Battle Hymn of the Republic” was published in 1861 with lyrics by Julia Ward Howe, and set to music from the folk song “John Brown’s Body.” Howe was an abolitionist and her lyrics connect imagery from Biblical passages describing the end of days with the events of the American Civil War. The lyrics have been quoted by orators including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bishop Michael B. Curry in their speeches against injustice. The song is known as an American patriotic song and was a favorite of several famous figures including Walt Disney and Winston Churchill.

  • Is this melody familiar to you?

  • Are the words familiar?

  • Did you find yourself humming along?

  • How did it affect you? Did your awareness change? Your breath? Your focus? Your mood?

  • Would you feel comfortable playing this in the background and allow yourself to hum or sing along? By yourself and/or with the one(s) you care for?

Did you ever hear Judy Garland sing this song? Judy calls The Battle Hymn of the Republic “one of the greatest songs ever written”. Go ahead and sing along with Judy!

Creative Ideas

HOW TO USE THE MUSIC

  • Try humming or singing along with the provided recording, or one of your choosing for increased feeling of ______.

  • Listen to a recording to create a shared experience.

  • Listen while engaged in daily routines, to add a feeling of familiarity and comfort (if the song is known and loved)

  • Try reminiscing with the song history, or singers of the song. Look at pictures famous singers who performed the song.

CAREGIVER TIPS

Tina Warnock, PhD Researcher at ARU's Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, observes that our voice is "intricately entwined with our sense of identity". As dementia progresses, it becomes more and more difficult to express one’s thoughts and feelings through words. When we use music, though, it is easier to bring out sounds that naturally fit into the context of a song. Sounds such as “la, do, oh, oo, dee, etc” can easily be used rhythmically and playfully in a musical context, giving rise to appropriate, fun, vocal expressions that can strengthen a sense of identity for those with dementia.

Steps:

1) Put on some music that you and the person you care for enjoys

2) Start humming, or using “la, da, dee, oo, do” sounds along with the melody

3) Encourage any engagement through your facial expressions of smiling, nodding

4) Watch for sign of responses (sounds, smiling, more attention, eye contact, etc)

Share your story! at  [email protected] 

SELF CARE TIPS

Because laughter is such a powerful self-care tip for all of us, we will revisit it as our self-care tip for this week. Studies indicate that we live longer, healthier lives, if we laugh on a daily basis.

Try watching a funny tv show or movie several times a week, if you need inspiration to laugh. Here is a montage of some funny clips from Golden Girls, a popular comedic tv show.

Here are a few jokes to get you going:

  1. I have a photographic memory, but I keep forgetting to develop it.

  2. I used to have a handle on life, but then it broke off

  3. WHY couldn’t the pony sing? It was a little horse

  4. WHAT did one toilet say to another?
    You look flushed.

  5. WHY couldn’t the sailor learn his alphabet?
    He kept getting lost at “C”.

  6. WHY did the photo go to jail?
    It was framed.

  7. WHAT lights up a football stadium?
    A football match.

  8. HOW does the moon cut its hair?
    Eclipse it.

  9. WHY should you take an extra pair of socks when you play golf?
    In case you get a hole in one.

  10. WHY did the dalmatian go to the optician?

    He kept seeing spots.

Benefits of laughter:

  • Reduces Stress & Anxiety

  • Improves Mood & Happiness

  • May Reduce Symptoms of Depression 

  • Helps connect with others (can be a good bonding experience with the one you care for as well)

  • Boosts Immune System

  • Lowers Blood Pressure

  • Boosts Circulation

  • Relaxes Muscles

DID YOU KNOW?

Caregiver singing created more ease for the caregiver, both emotionally and physically

Singing while providing care can improve the person with dementia’s posture, strength and ability to assist with caregiving?

In Eva Gotell’s 2003 research, she found that people with dementia had “straightened posture, stronger and more symmetric movements, and a greatly increased awareness of themselves and their environment, when their carers used singing while providing care. Persons with dementia appeared to regain skills necessary for daily living, and demonstrated that they could perform tasks with intention, purpose, and competence.”- Eva Gotell

Story

Unforgettable Chorus is a singing group, for those with dementia and their caregivers, founded in 2011 by Dr. Mary Mittelman, a research professor at NYU Langone Medical Center and director of the Psychosocial Research and Support Program at the Comprehensive Center on Brain Aging.

This singing group provides an opportunity for people with dementia and their care providers to do something meaningful and fun together on a regular basis. Singing is an activity that both can enjoy, feel equally competent at, stay connected to others, and stimulate health for both their bodies and their minds together.

“I tried to build the chorus so that people would come in and really feel like they could be themselves,” said Tania Papayannopoulou, the chorus’ music director and conductor. “That they could have a better day and a better week because they could carry the music with them.”

Thank you for taking the time to read through our newsletter. I hope you found at least one tip or inspiration that will bring more joy to your caregiving. 😄

In the music, 
Lisa Peterson
🎵