You may be one of the millions of people who’ve seen the viral video of Henry, an elderly man in a nursing home who popped out of the fog of dementia when he heard a cherished tune from his youth. That video is actually part of a larger documentary called Alive Inside that explores the healing power of music. It’s screening in Salt Lake City next week, so we're rebroadcasting our conversation with the film’s director, Michael Rossato-Bennett. We also spoke with social worker Dan Cohen, who’s trying to convince the world that music can enliven elderly people suffering from dementia and also help us provide them better care. (Rebroadcast)
On Monday, September 28, Salt Lake Acting Company will present a free screening of Alive Inside. It's at 7:00 p.m., 168 W 500 N, Salt Lake City. There will be a panel discussion following the film moderated by Ann Palmer of the Music and Memory Coalition of Utah. You're invited to bring new or used iPods or iTunes gift cards to donate. For more information, click here.
This event is in conjunction with Salt Lake Acting Company's run of Blackberry Winter, the story of one woman's journey through her mother's dementia. It runs through October 25th. Tickets and information at saltlakeactingcompany.org or by calling 801-363-7522.
Watch this excerpt from Alive Inside. It features Henry, a 94-year-old man who lives in a nursing home in Brooklyn. It reveals the larger point to the film … that music is not only magic but can be a backdoor into the mind.
