To the Beat of Their Own Drums

Clasping drum sticks, maracas, or djembe drums, about 10 senior citizens play in a circle at Emeritus Assisted Living, beating out rhythms with their hands, drumsticks, or simply clapping along to the beat.

But Emeritus’ drum circles are more than a fun activity for the residents participating—held in the facility’s Memory Care Unit, the drum circles are therapy for residents suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia.

“When you start to play, they just automatically join in,” Suzanne Lyon, Director of the Memory Care Unit said. “A couple of hours later, they may not remember it, but a lot of the time when you can’t communicate, it can be stressful. This is something that relieves the stress and maybe they are a little less agitated.”

The unit typically plans its activities based on the residents’ interests and occupations from when they were younger, Lyons added. The drum circles have been proven to lower stress, promote healing and increase relaxation, making them the perfect activity for the unit.

“It is something where everyone can participate and they are all on the same level,” Lyons said. “The idea is that you don’t have to be a musician. As long as you have a heartbeat, you can have rhythm.”

Though the unit has three former musicians—an opera singer, a Naval drummer and a member of a band—most of the unit’s 16 residents enjoy the 30 minute drumming sessions, Lyons said.

“For people that are hard of hearing, I would think that they can feel it, or at least they can feel what they are tapping,” she said.

Emeritus began offering the circles after receiving a flyer from a local percussionist. Though that offer was too expensive to pursue—Lyon noted that the unit was able to buy several drums for the cost of a single session—, the Emeritus staff began researching the idea and looking for instructional videos on YouTube. Donations from a staff members’ friend increased the unit’s instrument stocks too.

“This is a way to be doing something together,” Lyon said. “We use music a lot because they can remember. ... We never want to do something that will frustrate people. The idea of this is that you can do a creative thing that is simple.”

The drumming also provides tactile stimulation for the Memory Unit residents, as well as providing an outlet for the repetitive actions dementia can cause.

“This is one activity where you are encouraged to make noise,” Lyons said. “And if you are frustrated, you are encouraged to make noise.”

Though the activities vary throughout the month, the drum circles are favorite for staff and residents.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Ralph Curcio, a unit resident, said. “It’s all right.”