Music & Memory
by Amanda Davidson
CAHF Music & Memory Program Coordinator


Music & Memory℠ is designed to improve the lives of residents suffering from Alzheimer's, dementia, and other cognitive disorders. Music & Memory℠ provides training for providers in how to set up personalized music via iPods for residents, and then weave it into their daily plan of care.

Thanks to a 1.4 million dollar grant awarded to the California Association of Health Facilities (CAHF) in August 2015 from the California Department of Public Health, CAHF will be providing Music & Memory℠ training to 300 skilled nursing facility teams over the next 3 years, and distributing equipment for 4,500 skilled nursing residents in these participating facilities at no charge.

The free project is open to all skilled nursing facilities in the state, including non-members of CAHF.  Facilities will receive, at no cost, 15 iPod shuffles, 15 headphones, AC adapters, two splitters, one handheld speaker, a laptop computer, a $75 iTunes gift card, and Music & Memory℠ certification for one year.   

There are three phases of enrollment with Phase One and Phase Two currently underway.  Facilities can enroll now with the plan to participate in Phase Two (starting now) or Phase Three (summer 2017).

In cooperation with researchers from the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at the University of California, Davis, the CAHF Music & Memory project will study and document the effects of this music intervention.

This study will also identify effective strategies to spread and sustain the program through a Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement approach.

If they have not already done so, facilities should apply to be part of the CAHF Music and Memory Project now.  Facilities can go to https://cahf.org/AboutCAHF/MusicMemory.aspx today to apply for this life-changing program!

Click here for: “An Open Letter to Physicians Serving People with Dementia in Skilled Nursing Facilities”

Staff Contact:
Amanda Davidson
CAHF Music & Memory Program Coordinator
(916) 432-5209
[email protected]