Caregiver Support

Men's Support Group

3rd Wednesday of each month, 1p - 3p

Christ Our Savior Lutheran, 260 Wade Road W, Loudon, TN

Facilitated by Matt Noll, Owner, Home Instead Senior Care of Maryville

Worship Service

Held Quarterly on Wednesday at 4:30pm

Next Worship:  TBD

In Partnership with Community Church 

Our Place, 103 Cheeyo Way, Loudon, TN

Caregivers – Bring on the Music, Music, Music!

Diane Strever for Our PLACE

Our PLACE was blessed by everyone who supported our SOLD OUT Gala on May 18th at the Tellico Village Yacht Club. This is quickly becoming Tellico Village’s premier event, and we couldn’t do it without our sponsors, auction donors, volunteers, and Gala attendees. Throughout the evening, it was clear we were there to help Our PLACE participants, caregivers, families, and programs. Be sure to mark your calendars for our 3rd Annual Gala on May 17, 2026.

Over the next few months, I’ll provide you with information about the programming that happens at Our PLACE, which is not only therapeutic but thoughtfully designed to help our participants and their caregivers. This includes music, exercise, pet therapy, and communication, among others. This month, the focus is on music and the brain’s incredible response to it. From day one of volunteering at Our PLACE, I have been amazed by the immediate, positive, and universal participation of our clients when they hear music. Whether it is an individual or a local group that comes in to share their music, or a volunteer who leads everyone in singing songs or hymns, everyone takes part by singing, humming, or moving their body along with the music. So, I wondered how exactly music affects the brain in scientific terms.
A new article published in April by Neuroscience News reports on studies done at the University of Southern California on the link between nostalgic music and cognitive health. The scientists used magnetic resonance imaging to monitor blood flow to various regions of the brain. They created three categories of songs for each participant: 1. Personalized nostalgic (music tied to life events); 2. Familiar non-nostalgic (songs known to the participant but not linked to specific memories); 3. Unfamiliar non-nostalgic (songs the participant hadn’t heard before). 

Nostalgic music lights up the brain regions associated with autobiographical memory and self-reflection. For example, a person hearing their wedding song may recall not only the event, but the people and emotions of the day. Nostalgic songs also activate the pleasure and happiness areas of the brain, as well as motor regions of the brain. That explains why people may want to dance, sing along, or move their bodies when listening to a song. Music, then, turns into a mental key, giving access to thoughts, emotions, calm, and even vocabulary. This study confirms that music isn’t just entertainment, but essential to staying connected and aware. It also creates a feeling of awareness.

So, playing music in the background at home or singing together is a great tool, and one that is available to borrow at the Tellico Village Library. They have several music players that are easy to use and pre-programmed with specific kinds of music. In addition, other music genres are available, such as R&B, Jazz, Big Band, Rock, and music from various decades. Check out this great resource!!

 Our PLACE is the only independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit adult day center in East Tennessee. We provide person-centered care and dementia-specific therapies and interventions for adults while supporting their families and caregivers through respite, support groups, education, and resources, creating more “Moments of Joy” for these adults and their caregivers. For more information, call our Executive Director, Sarah Martin, at (865) 657-7222 or visit www.ourplacetn.org.