Eldermusic Ministries

[dreadnut]

I'm filing for 501c3 (nonprofit) status as Eldermusic Ministries, Inc. I bought the .com (eldermusicministries.com) and am in the process of designing the website, more to follow on this. My church has stepped up to the plate with $1,000 toward the cause, and I will soon be able to solicit donations as a non-profit. I've also made initial contact with CCLI to get a copyright license for compiling and printing a songbook for the organization. My goal is to continue to provide live therapeutic music sessions for dementia and hospice patients, as well as other special-needs groups, at no cost to the patients or the facility.

 

[AlohaJoe]

That's wonderful. I've done music in Asst Living communities and people really appreciate and respond to it. It's therapeutic and the right music can bring up great memories.

I have a friend who plays weekly for a local nursing home. She told me that one elderly gent never spoke and responded very little to people, but when she plays a song he knows he remembers and sings all the words. What a remarkable gift to everyone involved!
- Joe
ps - You're probably hipper to web stuff than I am (since I know, like... nothing), but I put up a site for our summer music camp through Weebly. I just dropped my text and pic into user-friendly templates. It's free, and you use your own domain name.

 

[southernGuild]

:wink: A mighty Good on'ya Dread.
Sounds like a great idea is being pursued and a real meaningful purpose to be involved in. Its going to do allot of good to many needy folks, at alloy of levels, and Im sure the good vides and good will will be felt by all involved. Great stuff!
All the best with it. :wink:

 

[Geo]

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) :wink:

Good for you Dread. Good luck with your project,,,,,, a very worthy cause!!

George

 

[dreadnut]

I've been doing this weekly for about ten years now, so I decided it's time to make it official. The music has such a positive effect on people that I believe it shold be a regular part of their regimen, not just once a month. (Our regular rotation brings us to four different facilities, one each week.)

 

[zulu]

Proud of ya dread!

 

[dreadnut]

Last night I announced we would sing "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" when a man in the front row grabbed his wife's hand and asked "You remember this one, honey?" Sadly, she shook her head "No." (She has Alzheimers, he doesn't.) Then she proceeded to sing every last word to the song with us, without missing a note, twice through.

Experiences like this keep us coming back week after week. When someone with dementia remembers things, it really resonates with their loved ones; it provides them with a connection that has been all but lost. Watching those two holding hands and singing that song together made the whole evening complete.

Not to mention it was an all-Guild night, the band consisted of two D-25M's and a DC-5E

 

[dapmdave]

Last night I announced we would sing "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" when a man in the front row grabbed his wife's hand and asked "You remember this one, honey?" Sadly, she shook her head "No." (She has Alzheimers, he doesn't.) Then she proceeded to sing every last word to the song with us, without missing a note, twice through.

Experiences like this keep us coming back week after week. When someone with dementia remembers things, it really resonates with their loved ones; it provides them with a connection that has been all but lost. Watching those two holding hands and singing that song together made the whole evening complete.

Not to mention it was an all-Guild night, the band consisted of two D-25M's and a DC-5E

You're doing good works, dreadnut.

Dave

 

[idealassets]

Great post Dreadnut. I hope you get your 501c3 status, since I know a few folks that waited a long time to get it. Rumor here in Michigan has it that Grand Rapids is the center of the Michigan "bible belt", so they may be good at getting it done for you.

I am certain that the elderly folks appreciate what you do. We have a few show up at one of our monthly folk music nights that are in their 80's and 90's, and not in a nursing home. I don't know how they do it. THese folks certainly like the music.

Craig

 

[griehund]

Did the first of our 2 monthly visits to nursing homes this morning. Some folks fall asleep and don't know whats going on. Others follow along very attentively. This morning one little lady told us she was very depressed when she came in but our rendition of the battle hymn of the republic brightened up her spirits and she sang along remembering every word. Mission accomplished. Bringing communion and a little comfort goes a long way.

Do you need the 501(c)3 or can you get along without it? You'll probably also need to incorporate and then you'll be responsible annual reports and tax filings.

 

[dreadnut]

Michigan tax-exempt status is easy, filing only cost $20 and mine should be complete by next week. The Feds are a different story, it costs $850 minimum and they won't even look at it for at least 6 months, that's how far behind they are. But I can operate non-profit in Michigan for 18 months and the Feds will honor it retroactively.

 

[West R Lee]

Congratulations Marc, I wish you luck....that truly is some fine work you're doing there my friend. You're making me miss playing nursing homes. Once mother passed away, I just lost touch.....shame on me.

West

 

[dreadnut]

No shame, Jim - it's got to be tough going back into that setting after losing your mom.

 

[West R Lee]

No shame, Jim - it's got to be tough going back into that setting after losing your mom.

Gosh, it was Marc, very difficult, but I did it for a while. Then I sort of lost touch with the folks I'd been playing with.

West