by Samantha McClain

As a part of the Spring Arts and Culture Festival, Rene Garcia-Oliver hosted an event called “Alzheimer’s Embodiment Discovery: Sensory Overload” on March 8 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. where participants could experience a version of the sensory and daily living challenges faced by people living with dementia and Alzheimers.

Garcia-Oliver is the concert hostess for the NWACC music department who graduated with an Associate of Fine Arts in Music-Vocal. She has also been working as a nurse educator for over 30 years.

“Music does things for the brain. It lights up the brain because people use all parts of the brain when connecting to music,” Garcia-Oliver said.

For this event, the participants are assigned tasks like finding glasses in a dark room with noise and other sensory elements diminished. They must wear sunglasses, a mask, and double gloves to complete other tasks such as paying the electric bill, preparing toothbrushes, and choosing an outfit. Then identify their picture in a photo album.

However, while participants go through this series of tasks, they learn how music can have a calming influence when external stimuli overwhelm them, according to music technician David Oliver.

According to alz.org, studies have shown music may reduce agitation and improve behavioral issues common in the disease’s middle stages.