SUMMARY
The medical community is trying many approaches to help push back against the advance of Alzheimer’s and dementia. One leading institution is taking a different and unconventional approach to supplement the traditional treatments: incorporating the arts and humanities into patient care, including improv and music.
View the transcript of the story.
Short on time? Watch the video and complete the following See, Think, Wonder questions: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
News alternative: Check out our recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. Then make a copy and answer these general discussion questions.
Key terms:
dementia — umbrella term used to describe a variety of neurological (brain) conditions that affect the brain and worsens over time, including the loss of the ability to reason and remember and reason
humanities — academic discipline that includes the study of human society and culture, including arts, music, literature, history, philosophy
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Where is the Mayo Clinic located?
- Who are Tane Danger and Katie Van Buren, and what does their work focus on?
- How might improv (improvisational theater) make a difference in the lives of dementia patients and help medical workers better relate to these patients, according to Danger and Van Buren?
- What role does music play in patient care at the Mayo Clinic?
- Why is improv's quintessential (most typical) "Yes and" approach helpful to dementia patients and medical staff?
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How do the think the arts including improv and music help patients with serious medical conditions? Were you surprised by anything in this story? Explain.
Media literacy: Take a look at the graphic below. How significant do you think it is that the Mayo Clinic has invested resources into using the arts to help medical staff better care for people with dementia and other neurological issues?
Credit: Screenshot PBS News Hour
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
Can you think of a scenario of how the creative arts and music have helped you or someone in your life get through a difficult time? What do you think of the idea of "music as medicine"? How about improv's "Yes And" approach? Write down some thoughts and share with a classmate or your class.
Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter with Daily News Lessons and community events.
To provide feedback on News Hour Classroom's resources, including this lesson, click here.
