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Melinda's Music recognized by State Assembly as asset to community

| 09 Nov 2017 | 06:47
    Photo by Roger Gavan Melinda's Music was recently recognized by the New York State Assembly as an asset to our local community. Founder Melinda Burgard (left) accepts the award from Assemblyman Karl Brabenec as Albert Wisner Public Library Director Rosemary Cooper (center) joins in the ceremony.
    Photo by Roger Gavan Melinda's Music was recently recognized by the New York State Assembly as an asset to our local community. Founder Melinda Burgard (left) accepts the award from Assemblyman Karl Brabenec as Albert Wisner Public Library Director Rosemary Cooper (center) joins in the ceremony.

WARWICK — Melinda's Music was recently recognized by the New York State Assembly as an asset to our local community.
Founder Melinda Burgard, a certified music therapist and state licensed creative arts therapist, offers Early Childhood and Music Programs at local libraries.
She is especially involved in free music social programs at the Albert Wisner Public Library, at Braemar Living in Middletown and throughout six nearby counties in the Hudson Valley via the Alzheimer's Association.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.
The music socials are for family caregivers and their loved ones with Alzheimer's or a related dementia.
Although current Alzheimer's treatments cannot stop Alzheimer's from progressing, they can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer's and their caregivers.
Burgard explained that the mission of the Alzheimer's Association's Music Socials is to provide an opportunity for family caregivers and their loved ones to socialize in a safe environment.
"It is also an opportunity," she added, "to utilize the healthy side of one's brain, the creative side, to enjoy, play and participate in music and dance activities with loved ones."
The Orange County Music Social Programs have expanded to both early and middle stage programs for people with Alzheimer's and related neurocognitive diseases.
There are two middle stage groups, which meet on a monthly basis at the Albert Wisner Public Library plus many other programs that assist families through this devastating disease.
All programs focus on the loved one with Dementia as well as the important role of the caregiver.
And participants look forward to their monthly group having fun and laughter.
Pre registration for these free programs is required.
Call Alzheimer's Association for more information at 1-800-282-3900.
- Roger Gavan