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Reunited: A Short Film About Music and the Human Spirit

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When Sam Kinsella first started working at a local nursing home, he met 93-year-old Edward Hardy. Stricken with dementia and depression, Hardy was barely communicating anymore. Shouting and distressed, he was out of it and seemed to have simply given up. While trying to make conversation, Kinsella told Hardy he was a musician, and Hardy's face lit up. He had been a musician, too. A pianist. Wouldn't it be great to get Hardy a keyboard, Kinsella thought. What happened next stunned everyone. This story just grows and blossoms before your eyes and ears. While it is testament to the power of music to enrich the brain and human spirit, it also shows the power of connection and the difference that one person can make in someone else's life.

Be The Change

Watch the trailer for "Alive Inside." Find out more about the effect of music on Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

Have an old ipod you don't need? Donate it to Music & Memory, a nonprofit organization that aims to bring personalized music into healthcare settings.

Today, reach out to someone you know who is elderly or bedridden and bring a little music or stimulation into their lives.

Reflections (25)

Suzanne Rose

What a marvellous young man you are Sam Kinsella, for finding out more about Ed, by using your own musical appreciation and creative thoughts to restoring his spirit by introducing musicians and instruments back into his life. This probably did more for for Edward than any medication. You were a blessing Sam, and I'm sure Edward and his wife are much happier now. Thank you for your kindness.

Deborah Plummer

It was magical seeing the light in his eyes and what a little information from someone new caused such a change in not only one person but the entire group. Very touching.

Linda

I was inspired by Edward's out of the box thinking. The fact that no one had provided Sam with an instrument didn't stop him from believing that Sam could still play. What a message about the brain. It holds onto music when so many other aspects of being fade. I am 63. Time to take up an instrument!

Rose Haverlack

To see that age does not negate the validity of a person is what I found in this video. Edward came "alive" with music and his sounds brightened the lives of all those in his company. Sam Kinsella did a wonderful thing. He brought life to an existence that was quieted because of illness. Kudos.

Gale Bakalik

The kindness of the young Sam Kinsella and his energy to help Edward. The young helping the old is so inspiring and loving. All the best to all of them.

shadakshary

Power of music is great

Pamela cheema

It was great to see the power of music on the mind of a dementia patient. It was wonderful to see the gentleman happy and rejuvenated with music.

Deepak

Thank you . It was marvelous to see what a difference music made to his life . Thank you for who you were . I do understand what Dementia does to a human being . I lost my mother recently to Dementia which she suffered for two years .

Kay

Marvelous and inspiring! God bless all who care for others and look for creative opportunities to support them.

Barbara C Alaimo

This was beautiful. But I am crying because I am trying to find the link for my 99 year old Dad to have a light in his eyes again. He doesn't go to social functions, look at TV, or read. I am really the only one who engages him in conversation. What can I do? I have tried playing music but that never was his special love. Talking about the past seems to be the best I can do.

Virginia Reeves

Tears in my eyes at the amazing power of music and its importance to our spirit and overall well-being. Thanks to all involved and may it encourage each of us to enjoy music until the end of our days.

Alice Kast

Thank you so much for resending this. When I first watched, I remembered my own 78 year attachment to music. And today Reike music took me high like the Catskill eagle remembered from a 1962 paper on Melville
â€œ...and there is a Catskill eagle in some souls that can alike dive down into the blackest gorges, and soar out of them again and become invisible in the sunny spaces. And even if he forever flies within the gorge, that gorge is in the mountains; so that even in his lowest swoop the mountain eagle is still higher than the other birds upon the plain, even though they soar.â€

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Reunited: A Short Film About Music and the Human Spirit

Reflections (25)

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