How This Director Is Using Music to Awaken Elders
“It’s Michael’s mission to reimagine how our society views the elderly and to foster a culture of empathy and acceptance.” - Maria Shriver
Every week in Maria Shriver’s newsletter publication The Sunday Paper, we honor individuals who use their voices, their hearts, and their minds to Move Humanity Forward. This week, in light of the 59th annual Grammy Awards, we wanted to honor a man who is using music to Move Humanity Forward.
Architect of Change of the Week Michael Rossato-Bennett is the director of the documentary “Alive Inside,” an incredible film that chronicles how music can be used to re-awaken the souls of individuals with dementia.
It’s Michael’s mission to reimagine how our society views the elderly and to foster a culture of empathy and acceptance. He wants to use music as a tool to create shared experiences across generations.
“We Have an Empathy Deficit in our Culture. Young people are being raised through technology and we don’t need each other in the way we used to. I’ve found that when the young connect with the elderly using music, it’s a phenomenal teaching moment. It’s transformative. I invented the Memory Player headsets, wired so two people can listen to the music at the same time. My dream is to have a million kids give a million elders these headsets. It’s cheap and it creates human connection.” -MRB
“We Should All Share the Soundtrack to Our Lives. The Alive Inside Foundation APP helps you find the soundtrack of your life. Everyone has songs that no one knows they love. Make a playlist and share it. If you’re ever cognitively impaired, people will know your music.” -MRB