Film Shows Power of Music on Elderly Who Are Often Unreachable [VIDEO]

A special film screening in Bangor next week will make you laugh, cry, and will touch your heart. 'Alive Inside' tells the story of a program that uses music loaded on iPods to elicit reactions from folks who are often non-verbal or unreachable, like Alzheimer's patients. The response seems almost miraculous.

I know, for me, music has always been a huge part of my life. I started playing piano when I was six years old and, although I haven't played flute or piano in years, it's still a part of my everyday life. Music evokes emotions and memories for everyone. I mean, admit it, if you hear your favorite song from high school days or a memorable time in your life, you'll stop everything to listen and maybe sing along.

It's this connection between music and memories that's at the heart of the program featured in the film. The coordinators spend time getting to know the patients and learning their music preference, whether it's swing, country, blues....whatever. They will then load up an iPod with that genre of music and let it work its magic.

The Camden Film Festival, in conjunction with the Bangor Y, and Penobscot Community Health Centers (PCHC) will hold a free screening of the movie 'Alive Inside' next week in Bangor. It's part of the 2nd Annual Aging in Maine Film Series and you don't want to miss it.

Dr. Larry Smith of PCHC says they're hoping healthcare providers and caretakers will attend the screening. But they're also hoping to see anyone who has an interest, like folks with elderly parents who either are, or may soon be, in a position that could benefit from the program. Just a word of warning - take your tissues. There's no way you're getting out of this without a tear or two - or twenty!

'Alive Inside' will be shown at Gracie Theatre, on Husson University's Bangor campus, on Tuesday, May 19th. The doors open at 6:30 and the movie begins at 7 p.m. While there's no admission price, donations will be accepted to help purchase iPods for the program.

For more information, log onto the website for the Camden Film Festival.