(MURFREESBORO) Following 12 years of serving people age 55 and up who have Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, Mindful Care Adult Day Services started practicing what it’s been preaching: music awakens the mind.

Annie Summar recently passed her national board certification exam in Music Therapy, and almost simultaneously Mindful Care made the decision to expand its program to include music therapy. Some would say it was a match made by a greater power.

Raised in Middle Tennessee, Summar is a graduate of Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, where she received a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Therapy and a minor in Family & Human Development. She sings and plays piano, guitar, ukulele, and the pipe organ, among others.

“Annie brings the joy and healing power of music,” said Cindy Jones, Mindful Care board vice president. “Mindful Care offers in-house and virtual offerings. Mindful Care —safe, experienced, affordable, loving care and now music.”

According to Jonathan Graff-Radford, M.D., research suggests that listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.

“Musical memories are often preserved in Alzheimer’s disease because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged by the disease,” Graff-Radford, said. Music can relieve stress, depression and agitation, he added.

In addition to Summar’s passion for music, she can be found on a run, reading a good book, or surrounded by her friends and family.

Mindful Care re-opened its doors on Aug. 3rd, after being closed for nearly four months due to COVID-19. The staff developed a virtual program for those people who were hesitant to return to the live program. Music therapy was also added to both the virtual and home activities.

To learn more about Mindful Care, visit www.mindful-care.org or call 615-542-4371. Openings are available.