In my last post I wrote about Jennifer landing back in the hospital after two years of progressively deteriorating behavior. I won’t be able to visit her until later this month after my vacation. Probably just as well, as by then, she may be be better able to receive visitors.
I’d like to set her up with Laurna Tallman’s focused listening by giving her a good set of headphones, an MP3 player onto which high frequency violin music has been downloaded, some mandala colouring books for adults, and a set of simple instructions.
Assuming Jennifer agrees to my offer, it’s unlikely that she’ll be able to manage and safeguard the equipment over time and replace it when needed. Who will support her listening efforts through personal contact? (I’m in the process of moving far away and won’t be around after June to help her.) Here’s where I’m hoping to involve the members of a club that I belong to where Jennifer used to be a member. I’ll be asking the Board in May if the Club will take her on as one of their many charitable projects, to replace the equipment when needed, to make sure she’s got a reliable source of high frequency music, and to encourage her to keep listening.
What a dazzling idea, Rossa! I have been thinking about some of the people who are having trouble persuading their own family members to stick with a Focused Listening program. If someone you are working with outside of the family is launching a similar program, the family member may be more strongly motivated to keep up the good work. A person with less severe ear damage is likely to respond faster to Focused Listening music therapy, which is encouraging to everyone involved.
Make sure the headphone don’t have cords but are wireless or they may not be able to use them in a psychiatric unit to do to suicide risk.
Good point. Hadn’t thought of this.