Jessie Rad

I was near the Battenkill River in Vermont when I thought of the body of water’s meaning and namesake: to “batten,” meaning, to latch, reinforce, or to “batten down the hatches.” In the 1900s, individuals with dementia were institutionalized in asylums where they were left to die.  This made me think of patients with dementia being “battened down,” being locked up, and eventually killed; such an awfully undignified and shameful life. Back then, dementia patients were simply battened and killed.  

 

These songs are about the patients I work with who have dementia and the juxtaposition of their lovely quirks mixed with their unfortunate condition.  I have come to see and experience so many wonderfully beautiful ways that individuals with dementia live their lives and I did my best to interpret how they feel, what we see, what could go on in their minds, and what we wish we could portray to each other.

 

All of these songs represent, and are dedicated to, every patient with dementia I’ve been so lucky enough to treat and become friends with in the years that I have worked in as a COTA/CDP in a dementia unit. I have played these songs to many of them, and continue to share this album while spreading my love and music towards my patients and their family members as much as I can. To the individuals with dementia who I’ve gotten to know: you are never alone and I will always have your back. I wrote an album about each of you so you can be reminded forever how much I truly love you when you hear each song, if you should ever forget.