DUBLIN, Ohio — Mother and son Dave and Pat Stenner have found ways to connect during this pandemic, not only through video chat, but through the power of music.
“It gives everybody a little bit of peace of mind to be able to see the other person, see how they're doing and actually talk with them,” said Dave Stenner.
- Mother’s Day 2020 looks much different than in years past because of the coronavirus pandemic
- Some families are finding unique ways to connect to elderly loved ones though technology
- Dave Stenner and his mother Pat don’t live in the same state, but stay connected though Skype and the power of music
What You Need To Know
Music was always a part of Dave's life.
His mom Pat played piano and sang in the Plain City Presbyterian Church choir, where her husband was pastor.
These days, Pat, who's 91, lives in the memory care community at Dublin Retirement Village.
She has Alzheimer's disease.
“'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas,' for the last five or six years, she would get stuck on that song, especially the intro that you don't normally hear. So she knew all the words and still does to a lot of those 40s and 50s songs. We're making the best of what we got and we appreciate very much what they're doing there at the facility,” said Stenner.
Pat is involved in the facility's music and memory program.
Administrators say the power of music transcends the memories lost to dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
It's enough to make the staff emotional, too.
“That video brought a smile to my face because it was just another way for the resident to connect with a family through music. It's pretty amazing,” said Dublin Retirement Village Administrator Dionne Nicol.
And although senior centers remain closed, Stenner will join one of his brothers this Mother's Day outside, waving to his mom, who will be watching inside though a glass window.
A simple gesture, but a loving one nonetheless, in this time of great uncertainty.
“We're gonna bring flowers and I always take a bag of the miniature chocolates. She will look at those and say, 'oh I haven't had these in so long.' I appreciate all that she has done for me all of my life. They have been a big part of it and we appreciate it, and I love her,” said Stenner.