CINCINNATI — A nonprofit that helps people with memory issues and their caregivers is beginning a new round of sessions that include music and a meeting of the minds.

​The Giving Voice Foundation brings people together in the Greater Cincinnati area who are dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, as well as their caregivers.

They meet every Monday at St. Clare Convent and every Wednesday at Knox Presbyterian Church.

Patients are guided through a session that alternates between seated yoga led by instructor Tiffany West and “live” music performed by Tracy Walker.

Some patients dance and sing along. One of the most enthusiastic participants is Kathy Palmer, a woman experiencing the early stages of memory loss.

“We get up and dance a lot,” Kathy Palmer said. “It wasn’t supposed to be a dance program, but we just get up and we’re moving.”

Sometimes, when she hears old favorites, she ends up singing along.

“All the words come back,” Kathy Palmer said. “They just pop in my head. For someone who can’t remember why she went up the stairs, the songs are such a success story for me to remember the words.”  

While Kathy has fun with her friends and her husband, the other caregivers have a meeting of their own.

“We talk about issues that are going on,” Dave Palmer said. “When somebody has a problem, it seems like somebody else has experienced that same issue and has a solution and what has worked for them.”

Dave Palmer said that he will take any advice and strategies he can learn because his wife’s diagnosis came as a complete shock.

“We lived a very active and social life,” Dave Palmer said. “We just were living the good life and then all of a sudden, this just kind of whammy. This group coming together when it did was very supportive for us both from a social and intellectual standpoint.”

“We’ve developed a nice group of friends here,” Kathy Palmer said. “We often go out to lunch after and we have a lot of stories to share.”

Friendship and interacting with others are just as important as any other form of therapy or medicine, said Dr. Christian Gausvik, Giving Voice Founder and President.

“So many folks experiencing some form of dementia are living at home with a caregiver,” Gausvik said. “They become really isolated, separated from the community and from social activities.”

Gausvik knew firsthand what families go through after watching older relatives deal with dementia. He has dedicated his life to geriatric medicine and to the nonprofit he founded along with his husband, Cody.

“It can really feel lonely at times walking through this journey of caring for a loved one as their memories fade,” Gausvik said. “Seeing those folks come together, realizing they are not alone, and learning from each other's shared experiences is a powerful part of Creative Connections.”

“Mondays are my favorite day of the week,” Kathy Palmer said. “I sure have fun.”