TBI Blues

Yesterday I had the privilege of taking some clients to the Paoli Blues Festival, which is basically just a fair-type of event with live music, food, vendors, lots of people, and even dogs.  Although getting around in crowds can be difficult when you're traveling with 5 people in wheelchairs, once we were able to stay put and listen to the music it was fun.  I was hoping for some blues that I'm familiar with and enjoy, but the bands played mostly original music, which wasn't bad because they sounded pretty good.  Most of the clients really enjoyed themselves and were happy to be there, with the exception of one (there's been some behavior issues with this client recently, maybe I'll go into more detail about them in another post...).

Music is something that all our clients enjoy on a daily basis.  For the most part, they are fans of the music they grew up with, just as most people tend to be.  At work, most listen to Classic Rock all day, and it's fun to hear them singing, humming, and clapping to it.  One client seems to know every word of every song that comes on 102.9, and claims that while she was in her coma, this music was all she listened to, so she memorized every song.  I have found that if you're dealing with her and she's in a bad mood, just turning the radio on can work wonders.  Music can make my job a lot easier and a lot more enjoyable, for both myself and the client.  Another client can hardly stand to ever be without music, and I feel terrible that this client missed the Blues Fest because he's been sick in the hospital.  Anyway, he sleeps with the radio on, listens to music while eating, listens to it at work, and will just sit and listen to it during his downtime.  It's a huge part of his life.  He also can play the guitar, which he is quite proud of.

So, in conclusion, music can be therapeutic if it's something that a client is into.  Clients differ greatly, just like the regular population, in the types of music they listen to and just how much they listen to it.  I have a lot of fun when going to events like I did yesterday with the clients I work with, because in some cases you can see a different side to them you haven't seen them before.  It's also a great opportunity to build a stronger relationship with them and just have fun while on the job!