MONROE - Music and creating new memories: This Sunday afternoon, it will be a dream come true for one Monroe woman.
Marion Schreihart, 84, will be going to Madison to see "Mamma Mia!", the popular Broadway musical that features the peppy tunes of 1970s pop superstars ABBA, in a production at the Overture Center. She'll be accompanied by her two daughters as well as a staff member from Azura Memory Care in Monroe.
A widow for nearly 25 years, Schreihart moved to Monroe about two years ago to be near her daughter, Gwen Shaker. Her son Steve lives in Madison; her other daughter Laura is in Freeport. At first Schreihart lived in St. John's apartments for seniors, but her dementia progressed and she moved to Azura about a year ago, Shaker said.
Sunday's outing to see a Broadway show is part of Azura's MOSAIC Dream Program that encourages patients who have memory loss to share their dreams. The program then tries to find a way to make those moments come true.
Azura has been very supportive, Shaker said. "They are one big family there. The residents are treated with respect and love."
On learning Schreihart wanted to see a musical, the Azura "Dream Team" began looking at local community theater companies to see what arrangements could be made. Staff learned that "Mamma Mia!" was coming to Madison, but because of the progression of Schreihart 's dementia and her limited eye sight, the seats available were not a good option.
But when Overture staff learned of Schreihart's wish to see a Broadway show with her daughters, they found tickets closer to the stage - free of charge - for the family and an Azura caregiver. The Overture Center also arranged for Schreihart to meet some of the cast members after the show.
It was only natural that Schreihart's dream involves music.
Shaker said her mother studied at the Milwaukee School of Music and was just one semester shy of her music degree when she left school to marry. Growing up, Shaker recalls her mother singing at weddings and funerals and giving piano lessons. Schreihart played the piano and "encouraged me to take piano lessons," Shaker said. When it came time for her mother to downsize, she gave Shaker her piano. "I figured I better do something with it," said Shaker, who continues to teach piano to students in Monroe.
Music helps bridge the communication gap that her mother's dementia has brought. When she visits, Shaker gets the keyboard out and plays for her mother. Schreihart remembers the words to hymns and sings along.
"The older the hymn, the better," Shaker said.
Where words fail, music fills the void.
"When she sings, she still has that beautiful opera-sounding voice," Shaker said.
Her mother is excited to see the show, Shaker said. They plan to leave early Sunday so they have time to get something to eat before the 1 p.m. show. Hopefully, they will be able to fulfill another of her mother's wishes: To enjoy a glass of wine outside.
The day may be the fulfillment of her mother's dream, but Shaker said she has a simple wish for the day as well:
"Just to have a fun day together," she said. "To have fun memories, and no worries."
Marion Schreihart, 84, will be going to Madison to see "Mamma Mia!", the popular Broadway musical that features the peppy tunes of 1970s pop superstars ABBA, in a production at the Overture Center. She'll be accompanied by her two daughters as well as a staff member from Azura Memory Care in Monroe.
A widow for nearly 25 years, Schreihart moved to Monroe about two years ago to be near her daughter, Gwen Shaker. Her son Steve lives in Madison; her other daughter Laura is in Freeport. At first Schreihart lived in St. John's apartments for seniors, but her dementia progressed and she moved to Azura about a year ago, Shaker said.
Sunday's outing to see a Broadway show is part of Azura's MOSAIC Dream Program that encourages patients who have memory loss to share their dreams. The program then tries to find a way to make those moments come true.
Azura has been very supportive, Shaker said. "They are one big family there. The residents are treated with respect and love."
On learning Schreihart wanted to see a musical, the Azura "Dream Team" began looking at local community theater companies to see what arrangements could be made. Staff learned that "Mamma Mia!" was coming to Madison, but because of the progression of Schreihart 's dementia and her limited eye sight, the seats available were not a good option.
But when Overture staff learned of Schreihart's wish to see a Broadway show with her daughters, they found tickets closer to the stage - free of charge - for the family and an Azura caregiver. The Overture Center also arranged for Schreihart to meet some of the cast members after the show.
It was only natural that Schreihart's dream involves music.
Shaker said her mother studied at the Milwaukee School of Music and was just one semester shy of her music degree when she left school to marry. Growing up, Shaker recalls her mother singing at weddings and funerals and giving piano lessons. Schreihart played the piano and "encouraged me to take piano lessons," Shaker said. When it came time for her mother to downsize, she gave Shaker her piano. "I figured I better do something with it," said Shaker, who continues to teach piano to students in Monroe.
Music helps bridge the communication gap that her mother's dementia has brought. When she visits, Shaker gets the keyboard out and plays for her mother. Schreihart remembers the words to hymns and sings along.
"The older the hymn, the better," Shaker said.
Where words fail, music fills the void.
"When she sings, she still has that beautiful opera-sounding voice," Shaker said.
Her mother is excited to see the show, Shaker said. They plan to leave early Sunday so they have time to get something to eat before the 1 p.m. show. Hopefully, they will be able to fulfill another of her mother's wishes: To enjoy a glass of wine outside.
The day may be the fulfillment of her mother's dream, but Shaker said she has a simple wish for the day as well:
"Just to have a fun day together," she said. "To have fun memories, and no worries."