Hello Everyone! My name is Alexandria (Alex) Clowers, and I am a senior in the BSW program. I aspire to become a Music Therapist because of my love for music—I play viola and guitar—and my passion for helping others through social work.
I have both professional and personal experience working with older adults. Professionally, I volunteered at a senior living facility with my high school orchestra, where we formed a quartet to play songs that uplifted the spirits of the residents, reminding them of their youth. Personally, I have experience with older adults, including family members who have faced dementia. My great-grandmother had dementia, and my grandfather currently has it. I am deeply committed to helping older adults, especially those with dementia.
As a future Music Therapist, I intend to work with older adults and children, as these are our two most vulnerable age groups. Many individuals with dementia lose their memories, but hearing a familiar song can evoke past experiences and emotions. Throughout this course, I want to learn more about the older population and how to care for them more effectively.
Our elderly population often faces neglect and loneliness, which is unacceptable. We need to do more to support them, and I hope this class can provide me with the resources & knowledge to make a difference.
The concept of older adulthood refers to a stage in life when your body begins to change in ways you’ve never experienced before. Your hair turns gray, and you may encounter significant changes in your health, appearance, and mental state. While you continue to evolve and gain wisdom over time, finally seeing things and people as they truly are, this stage can also present vulnerabilities.
Although I am currently only 21 years old and have a few decades before I reach older adulthood, I imagine that I will have a cute, gray afro or maybe gray locs. I hope to have more wisdom and intelligence than I have now. I hope to be surrounded by an abundance of friends and family who genuinely care for me and see me as a symbol of resilience and love. By the time I am 65, I definitely want to be retired. I envision spending my free time traveling the world with my future spouse and experiencing life to its fullest. I also want to continue making music, as it will always be a huge part of my life. I hope to have children and grandchildren who look up to me and come to me for guidance whenever they need help.
Despite the beautiful aspects of aging, I have concerns. What if I experience dementia, like my great-grandmother and grandfather? The condition runs in both sides of my family, making it likely that I could face it as well. I sincerely hope not to experience dementia because it robs individuals of their mind, memory, and experiences. It also devastates families, and I wouldn’t want my loved ones to witness my heartbreaking deterioration. Additionally, I feel that I might face issues with my eyes (as I already wear glasses and contacts), my hearing (since I often blast music), and my mobility. As people age, moving heavy objects becomes more challenging due to fragility, and I worry that I might develop a hunchback if I don’t work on my posture now.
I have 44 years until I reach 65, but I have recently realized that time slips away from us quickly, and 65 will be here before I know it. I am scared of the losses I will inevitably experience. Spending more time with my 80-year-old grandma has made me aware of how many of her friends have passed away, leading her to feel increasingly lonely. She is at an age where fewer of her friends and classmates remain, and it saddens me to think that she won’t be here forever either. I have many concerns about aging, but I recognize that we must take each day as it comes.
Hey Alex
I had a great time reading your post! I adore your enthusiasm for music and serving people, particularly those suffering from dementia. It’s incredible how music can trigger strong feelings and memories in individuals; as a music therapist, you seem like you’ll have an important impact.
I understand your worries about aging and the changes it brings, particularly with regard to possible memory loss and health issues. It’s great that you’re planning forward for how to continue being active, sustaining relationships, and doing what you enjoy. I really adore your outlook on the future! I really appreciate you sharing your experiences; they were quite motivating!
Hi Alex. These are some beautiful reflections. I am always touched to see the way that music brings older adults ” back to life” in a way. I agree that establishing a love and engagement with music among children creates an essential foundation that can be carried throughout life. Your goals for your future sound well thought out, and I hope they all come true. You seem like a determined young woman, and I’m sure your family is proud, as I imagine your descendants will be in the future. With that said, I can imagine you will do all that is within your power to curb the impact of dementia in your future.
I truly enjoyed your writing; it was so upbeat and positive! I loved your enthusiasm for music and how you are using it to connect and create relationships with people, specifically those with dementia. Music can evoke emotions and memories in such a unique way, and I think you will be incredibly influential/stylish as a music therapist! I think music therapy sounds wonderful because I use music reflectively and therapeutically too, and I find it is a great way for me to relax and process my emotions, allowing me to be more connected and can see how it could be beneficial for older adults as well.
I also relate to your ideas about growing old, in terms of what growing old looks like in regards to our memory or our health, or losing our independence. I love that you are contemplating how you will intentionally engage in life, keep meaningful relationships, and pursue activities that bring you pleasure and joy. Your reflective thoughts about the future are so optimistic, I appreciated your sharing your approach to being more optimistic – it inspired and touched me!
Alex,
I am totally impressed by the number of you who are musicians. I have been playing with the idea of getting each of you to play a particular piece and then try to put it together digitally. Crazy, I know, but I feel drawn to the fact that so many of you are connected to music. We did a ukulele group in the agency where I worked providing educational programming for older adults. I still have mine – but don’t worry, you won’t get any contribution from me.
I think the experience of living with dementia, either with family or yourself, changes how you think about it – both for the good and bad. It can be scarier, but it can also make you clearer about exactly what it looks like and what it can mean. I think you will gain some additional insight from the podcast with Jim Fox, which is the first one we have scheduled starting on the 14th.
I also think our texts will challenge the traditional thinking about aging in our culture and provide some new insights that can inform our practice. I look forward to many conversations.
Dr P