Capital Campaign for Older Adults
THANK YOU Thank you to everyone who has made monetary donations, donated or purchased items for/from our silent auction, or purchased books so far!!!
We have raised $4,345 to date which will all be used to fund free and low cost music therapy for older adults living in private homes!!
WHILE OUR SILENT AUCTION AND BOOK BASH HAVE CLOSED, MONETARY DONATIONS OF ANY SIZE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AND WILL CONTINUE TO GO TOWARDS OUR CAMPAIGN TO EXTEND THE LENGTH OF TIME WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER THESE GROUPS.
The older adults throughout our community paved the way for all of the opportunities we have. They have sacrificed, innovated, and broken down many barriers so that we can have better lives than they experienced.
Despite this, many older adults in private homes are living isolated lives of poverty, depression, and poor quality of life.

All profits from book sales; donations; and funds raised from our auction, minus shipping costs and credit card processing fees, will be used to support free or reduced cost music therapy sessions for low income, rural, and/or marginalized older adults in Minnesota living in private homes.
PLEASE CONSIDER:

MAKING A MONETARY DONATION

CONTRIBUTING AN ITEM(S) FOR OUR SILENT AUCTION

PURCHASING SOMETHING AT OUR SILENT AUCTION

PURCHASING BOOKS AT OUR BOOK BASH

SPREADING THE WORD TO YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, COLLEAGUES, AND NETWORKS
Every donation, regardless of size makes a difference!
We are grateful for donations of any amount. Individuals and/or organizations are welcome to donate.
* Donations are unfortunately not tax deductible.
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!

SILENT AUCTION
A few items have not been purchased yet from the auction. If you are interested in any of these items please reach out to melissa@livingspirittherapy.com.
THANK YOU to everyone who donated items, purchased items, or made monetary donations!!
Our Online Silent Auction was held Wednesday December 1st - December 14th at midnight.
You can access the auction via the QR code below or this link:
https://www.32auctions.com/LSTSAuctionForOlderAdults

BOOK BASH
100% of the profits of Usborne Books and More (UBAM) sales will be donated to the capital campaign!
Our fall Usborne Books and More fundraiser for Ramsey County Children's Mental Health Collaborative was a huge success and we are excited to host another a Book Bash Fundraiser to support reduced or no cost music therapy for older adults.
2 Ways to Help:
1: Buy online using this link. Email melissa@livingspirittherapy.com if you would like personalized recommendations!
2: Gather a group of friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors to host your own party. Earn free and half price books for yourself or the organization of your choosing AND we will also donate 100% of the profits for our capital campaign as well! Contact melissa@livingspirittherapy.com to schedule a party or learn more.
How Can Music Therapy Help?
For those of you who are not familiar with music therapy, it can be an incredibly powerful tool for improving physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual needs. Unfortunately, unless you live in long term care or are on hospice, most older adults have to pay out of pocket for music therapy services and this is not feasible for many.
What difference can music therapy play in the lives of older adults?
One individual we worked with had a stroke over a decade earlier. She had no functional speech and her neurologist, Dr., and speech therapist told her she just wasn’t going to speak anymore. When we were done working with her, we recorded her saying “Good morning [name of her daughter and husband] I just wanted to say that I love you”. If she did not have the funds to pay for music therapy out of pocket, she may have lived the rest of her life with no functional speech.
An individual with dementia we worked with would spend most of her days sitting in her wheelchair, body tense, grinding her teeth, eyes closed, and completely unresponsive to visiting family members. During music therapy she maintained strong and expressive eye contact with her daughter, nodded her head affirmatively when her daughter shared stories, smiled, laughed, hummed along, and danced. If her daughter did not have the money for private pay music therapy, she and her daughter would have missed these incredible moments of joy and connection.
Click here to learn more about music therapy.
What have families we have worked with said about their music therapy experience?

Emotional, Spiritual, and Pyschosocial:
The music touches him … You’re the only one who can make him smile. He doesn’t even smile for me … He has his eyes open more for you than anyone else … He really moves to the music.
I feel better now than I have in 4-5 days. It really makes your whole day.
It gives me hope and letting go.
I learned that it doesn't matter if you have memory loss or what have you...the music is still there.
Music is good for the soul, and, it makes you feel alive.
Music therapy really makes people connect. It’s the most helpful of all the therapies. It’s like you flip a switch & turn them on. I have to bring a camera next time! She just lights up to the music!
You come here and give me peace through the music. It’s healing.
You lift us up and take us away. You bring so much joy to our lives.
It’s like a different world when music is involved. He reacts differently to music.
You walk through the door that needed to be opened. You bring tears to my eyes and cheer me up.
You have been a bridge for me. You lift me up and carry me.
You bring me out of the hole.
You really make a difference. It’s amazing that you have that kind of power to change someone’s day like that.
It’s like a soul vacation.
We would be lost without you.
Music is one of the only things that can reach her.
You brought me home.
It brings me up just when I needed that. I thank Jesus that the music can bring out those feelings. This is the kind of work you need to do.
It’s always a pleasure when you come. It’s a bright space. I’m feeling better now than I have been.
It’s nice that you can come and make my day complete.
You brighten this place immeasurably. There’s nothing like music.
It helps me keep it together.
I’ll have a better day because you were here.
You bring peace, joy, and light where ever you go.
I’m thinking about how good it is to sing. It brings you out of your troubles.
You always make me feel better.
I feel wonderful and blessed to have met you.
Her face really lit up when she saw you.
You are a bright spot in my life.
I haven’t seen her smile that much in a while, you must be doing something right.
This is a real gift to families.
The music put me in the right mood.
I’m sure where ever you go you spread joy.
You make everything just right for us.
I wouldn’t have had a day without you.
This [music therapy] is the best thing that has happened to me.
Music makes me feel content. It just takes my stuff away.
This music is the most helpful thing of everything.
You made my day.
Music communicates.
Music is a true healer.
it’s truly a blessing to have you here.
It’s amazing to see how much he responds to songs he knows.
It’s not singing it’s praying.
We can make ourselves happy with a little music.
I heard the music & thought I was in heaven.
I’m much better now that you worked on me.
You really brightened up our days.
If this isn’t therapy I don’t know what is.
This is the best medication she’s had along. You have a beautiful ministry.
I’m glad you came, you really made me feel better. My golly, my day is made!
It’s a good experience. I like singing. I convince myself that I’m good at something. I enjoy my own singing. I can feel mellow. Songs remind me of things that get you by, and If I didn’t have music, I wouldn’t feel happy. It calms me down.
Oh, that makes me feel good!
That really lifts me up. I needed that.
It’s always a pleasure to have you. It raises my spirits. You drive away the bad things.
Decreasing Behaviors:
After you are done their moods are so much different. They are so much more relaxed!
Sense of Purpose:
It makes me feel part of the whole big thing, it gives me a lift.
Physical:
When asked if he had pain client responded, not when you are singing.
I can just feel my body relax to that kind of music.
It’s good for me, for my lungs. I think my whole person is part of it. I feel like it increases my breaths, so it helps. It stays with me for days.
[Music] was just what I needed this morning and the relaxation really makes a difference in my lower back. It helps the pain.
You’re good medicine.
It would be interesting to take [blood pressure] before & after music. I bet it’s lower now.
You do as much or more than doctors and nurses to make you feel better.
Cognitive:
[Music] opens up a window.
It makes my mind feel good.
This is the most fun she’s had all week. she hasn’t been awake this long in a long time, she really enjoys the music.
Let’s pay it forward to/back to the older adults who paved the way for us!
Thank you in advance for helping us to make our community stronger!
For larger donations, consider writing a check to avoid credit card processing fees.
Please email melissa@livingspirittherapy.
DONATE:



