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And Still the Music Plays: Stories of People with Dementia
Madrid. 20 cm. 252 p. Encuadernación en tapa blanda de editorial ilustrada. Traducción, Jesús Masanet. Historias de personas con demencia. Subtítulo de la cubierta. Bibliografí p. 245-247. Enfermos de demencia senil .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y señales de su anterior propietario. 1874790884,9781874790884
244 pages, Paperback
First published February 29, 2008
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151 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 16, 2020
This is an excellent book on dementia which helps to shed light and common sense into an area where there is much myth and a great deal more poor quality care. Stokes has the great gift of being able to explain complex processes in simple straightforward ways. He does this by using anonymised case examples.
I sometimes forget (as I work with people who have dementia), how frightening it appears from the outside and Stokes explains some of the jargon of the person-centred care approach (Functional Analysis, Functional Displacement, malignant social psychology, confabulation, perservation, ABC analysis and executive dysfunction to name a few).
I have always known instinctively that all the behaviours that people with dementia display are explicable and not random or just people being difficult. One example illustrates this. A woman in a care home was continually screaming and shouting whilst sat in the communal lounge (one of the more fiendish inventions of the care sector). She doesn't scream in her own room or in the dining room. The Care Assistants and other residents are becoming frustrated and less tolerant. There is, of course no point telling her to be quiet because almost immediately she has forgotten she has asked to be quiet because of the nature of the disease. Stokes is called in and analyses the situation, looking at why she only screams in the lounge; she does this even when it is empty and therefore it is not other people. Eventually he has a brainwave and removes a pottery cat. The screaming stops instantly. She was morbidly afarid of cats and not able to communicate in any other way than screaming.
Stokes can and does point towards good practice. What he is unable to do is to say how in an era of cuts and austerity with social care budgets shrinking and the numbers of people with demantia increasing, we are going to provide a good standard of care for those in the later stages of dementia (apart from putting it out to tender and awarding the contract to the lowest bidder!)
This is a good introduction to dementia and person-centred care. Despits its positive approach it may end up depressing you as it hints at the scale and cost of the task of providing good care.
Just an added note: the pandemic is making those with Alzheimer's much more vulnerable and isolated. It also opens them up to abuse as many will not be aware there is a pandemic and so won't obey the rules on masks and social distancing, or will forget to.
I sometimes forget (as I work with people who have dementia), how frightening it appears from the outside and Stokes explains some of the jargon of the person-centred care approach (Functional Analysis, Functional Displacement, malignant social psychology, confabulation, perservation, ABC analysis and executive dysfunction to name a few).
I have always known instinctively that all the behaviours that people with dementia display are explicable and not random or just people being difficult. One example illustrates this. A woman in a care home was continually screaming and shouting whilst sat in the communal lounge (one of the more fiendish inventions of the care sector). She doesn't scream in her own room or in the dining room. The Care Assistants and other residents are becoming frustrated and less tolerant. There is, of course no point telling her to be quiet because almost immediately she has forgotten she has asked to be quiet because of the nature of the disease. Stokes is called in and analyses the situation, looking at why she only screams in the lounge; she does this even when it is empty and therefore it is not other people. Eventually he has a brainwave and removes a pottery cat. The screaming stops instantly. She was morbidly afarid of cats and not able to communicate in any other way than screaming.
Stokes can and does point towards good practice. What he is unable to do is to say how in an era of cuts and austerity with social care budgets shrinking and the numbers of people with demantia increasing, we are going to provide a good standard of care for those in the later stages of dementia (apart from putting it out to tender and awarding the contract to the lowest bidder!)
This is a good introduction to dementia and person-centred care. Despits its positive approach it may end up depressing you as it hints at the scale and cost of the task of providing good care.
Just an added note: the pandemic is making those with Alzheimer's much more vulnerable and isolated. It also opens them up to abuse as many will not be aware there is a pandemic and so won't obey the rules on masks and social distancing, or will forget to.
September 27, 2022
Le tengo mucho cariño a este libro, es tan humano, sentí que aprendí un montón.
De mis favoritos, gracias Silvia de verdad💜
De mis favoritos, gracias Silvia de verdad💜
February 11, 2018
Este libro no me lo leí por iniciativa propia, me lo leí porque me lo recomendó la terapeuta ocupacional de mi centro de prácticas externas, y debo decir que no me arrepiento de haberlo leído.
Te da una nueva visión de como distintos tipos de personas viven las demencias, como también te explica como la viven sus familiares y cuidadores.
Algunas historias me han parecido más tristes que otras, lo que me ha hecho reflexionar acerca que pasaría si esto sucediese en mi entorno.
Así que justamente por esta reflexión entiendo que es un libro que no se puede recomendar a cualquiera, porque hay personas que todo esto se lo toman al pie de la letra, y por lo tanto pasan más tiempo preocupados de lo que puede pasar, de lo que están viviendo en ese momento.
Me ayudado a abrir más mi mente en el espacio socio-sanitario, que espero poder trabajar en un futuro.
Te da una nueva visión de como distintos tipos de personas viven las demencias, como también te explica como la viven sus familiares y cuidadores.
Algunas historias me han parecido más tristes que otras, lo que me ha hecho reflexionar acerca que pasaría si esto sucediese en mi entorno.
Así que justamente por esta reflexión entiendo que es un libro que no se puede recomendar a cualquiera, porque hay personas que todo esto se lo toman al pie de la letra, y por lo tanto pasan más tiempo preocupados de lo que puede pasar, de lo que están viviendo en ese momento.
Me ayudado a abrir más mi mente en el espacio socio-sanitario, que espero poder trabajar en un futuro.
May 17, 2018
‘And still the music plays’, is a book everyone should read. It gives insight into what must be a bewildering world faced by people with dementia; an umbrella term, because no two people exhibit the same symptoms. They are all individuals and suffer in their own unique ways.
Several months ago my wonderful father died from Alzheimer’s. It’s an insidious disease, which changes the person very gradually, from the familiar person you know, to someone almost unrecognisable. With hindsight, there were signs with my father that we didn’t at first recognise. They were almost imperceptible. Something we couldn’t quite put our finger on. The book presents case studies of various people and how the onset of their dementia manifested. Even though as the disease progresses each sufferer has very different problems, we learn from the book that the incipient stage bears similarities.
The book is very informative. It describes ingenious ways of circumventing various problems, which can exhaust and be stressful for the carers. I wish the book had been available to us when my father was in the throes of Alzheimer’s. It describes reasons for some of the bizarre behaviour and ways to cope. It would also have been comforting to know that at any time there are thousands of relatives/carers in the same situation.
General practitioners and many health professionals still don’t fully understand dementia and they initially often confuse it with depression or ‘getting older.’ So, I highly recommend the book to carers. Even if readers don’t have any links to people with dementia, it will at least bring awareness to the disease, which is blighting the lives of so many people, old and young.
Several months ago my wonderful father died from Alzheimer’s. It’s an insidious disease, which changes the person very gradually, from the familiar person you know, to someone almost unrecognisable. With hindsight, there were signs with my father that we didn’t at first recognise. They were almost imperceptible. Something we couldn’t quite put our finger on. The book presents case studies of various people and how the onset of their dementia manifested. Even though as the disease progresses each sufferer has very different problems, we learn from the book that the incipient stage bears similarities.
The book is very informative. It describes ingenious ways of circumventing various problems, which can exhaust and be stressful for the carers. I wish the book had been available to us when my father was in the throes of Alzheimer’s. It describes reasons for some of the bizarre behaviour and ways to cope. It would also have been comforting to know that at any time there are thousands of relatives/carers in the same situation.
General practitioners and many health professionals still don’t fully understand dementia and they initially often confuse it with depression or ‘getting older.’ So, I highly recommend the book to carers. Even if readers don’t have any links to people with dementia, it will at least bring awareness to the disease, which is blighting the lives of so many people, old and young.
April 21, 2010
This book is for anyone who wants to understand the effects of dementia and how we can best care for and nurture those who have it. It's very easy to read with each chapter telling the story of a different person presenting with a range of 'problems'. Too often bizarre and challenging behaviours are just attributed to the illness; this book shows that many of them have a rational foundation. If we can understand where they come from we can care so much more sensitively and effectively, enhancing the lives of everyone in the process. I recommend it.
January 5, 2022
En mi caso, «Y la música sigue sonando: historias de personas con demencia» es una relectura de un libro que cayó en mis manos por casualidad hace algunos y con el que sentí que mirar la demencia a través de los ojos (o quizá las letras) de Graham Stokes me hacía ver, como él bien escribe en varias ocasiones, a las personas y no a la enfermedad.
Gracias a los ventidós relatos que podemos leer con diferentes protagonistas que padecen diversos grados de demencia o Alzheimer, el escritor nos intenta abrir esa ventana de comprensión que en ocasiones cuando no nos toca de cerca un problema, podemos tener cerrada. Por sus letras, da la impresión de ser un hombre con una sensibilidad exquisita hacia los problemas de los demás y que ama su trabajo. Bien es cierto que no solo tratar con las enfermedades (trastornos, síndromes, etc.) es algo notoriamente complicado, sino que el mismo trato con las personas también lo es (como se diría en confianza, cada uno somos de nuestro padre y de nuestra madre) y no siempre se consigue llegar a la solución perfecta; pero siempre es de agradecer que se consiga al menos una mejoría para una persona que está sufriendo por algo. Hay cosas que realmente no te llegas a plantear hasta que no te metes de lleno en cada historia. Simplemente necesitan comprensión y, parecería lógico, que se les trate como a personas.
Mientras iba leyendo el libro, he ido guardando en el apartado de actividad todas las frases o renglones que han ido llamando mi atención por una cosa o por otra y es que, como decía al principio, este libro es una relectura y ahora lo leía con una mirada diferente a la primera vez. El Alzheimer es un trastorno neurológico y yo misma soy una persona que también vive con una condición neurológica de por vida. Evidentemente no es lo mismo y quizá no puede ser comparable en muchos aspectos, pero leyendo el libro de nuevo me he dado cuenta de la cantidad de similitudes que tenemos. Muchas veces vivimos sin que los demás vean los esfuerzos que hacemos por sobrevivir en un mundo que para nosotros es diferente y mucho más complejo; el diagnóstico suele ser erróneo y en ocasiones el mismo (depresión) por mostrar baja concentración, olvido, apatía o desinterés, entre otras cosas; también tenemos dificultades para hacer frente a los cambios; tomamos las cosas de manera excesivamente literal; la agnosia; la apraxia; la horrible disfunción ejecutiva y por supuesto, la infantilización por parte de los demás… Y como Grace (capítulo 1), en mi caso también sobrevivo al día a día gracias a las alarmas.
Gracias a los ventidós relatos que podemos leer con diferentes protagonistas que padecen diversos grados de demencia o Alzheimer, el escritor nos intenta abrir esa ventana de comprensión que en ocasiones cuando no nos toca de cerca un problema, podemos tener cerrada. Por sus letras, da la impresión de ser un hombre con una sensibilidad exquisita hacia los problemas de los demás y que ama su trabajo. Bien es cierto que no solo tratar con las enfermedades (trastornos, síndromes, etc.) es algo notoriamente complicado, sino que el mismo trato con las personas también lo es (como se diría en confianza, cada uno somos de nuestro padre y de nuestra madre) y no siempre se consigue llegar a la solución perfecta; pero siempre es de agradecer que se consiga al menos una mejoría para una persona que está sufriendo por algo. Hay cosas que realmente no te llegas a plantear hasta que no te metes de lleno en cada historia. Simplemente necesitan comprensión y, parecería lógico, que se les trate como a personas.
Mientras iba leyendo el libro, he ido guardando en el apartado de actividad todas las frases o renglones que han ido llamando mi atención por una cosa o por otra y es que, como decía al principio, este libro es una relectura y ahora lo leía con una mirada diferente a la primera vez. El Alzheimer es un trastorno neurológico y yo misma soy una persona que también vive con una condición neurológica de por vida. Evidentemente no es lo mismo y quizá no puede ser comparable en muchos aspectos, pero leyendo el libro de nuevo me he dado cuenta de la cantidad de similitudes que tenemos. Muchas veces vivimos sin que los demás vean los esfuerzos que hacemos por sobrevivir en un mundo que para nosotros es diferente y mucho más complejo; el diagnóstico suele ser erróneo y en ocasiones el mismo (depresión) por mostrar baja concentración, olvido, apatía o desinterés, entre otras cosas; también tenemos dificultades para hacer frente a los cambios; tomamos las cosas de manera excesivamente literal; la agnosia; la apraxia; la horrible disfunción ejecutiva y por supuesto, la infantilización por parte de los demás… Y como Grace (capítulo 1), en mi caso también sobrevivo al día a día gracias a las alarmas.
¿Por qué degradamos su comportamiento a síntomas de una enfermedad, en vez de considerarlos como signos de los esfuerzos que hacen para sobrevivir en un mundo impregnado de miedos, amenazas y misterios? ¿Podría ser que ya no los consideramos personas cuyos sentimientos tenemos que comprender y cuyas opiniones tenemos que valorar?
March 31, 2020
This is an excellent, fascinating and compassionate book!
It tells the stories of various patients Graham Stokes had met as a clinical psychologist and how he enables previously unexplained, discordant behaviour to be understood in the context of the patient's personality, previous experience, traumas and fears.
He demonstrates the highest respect for his patients and shows how, by a process of detective-style investigations, he enables care staff to see where each of his patients are coming from and ultimately, how their emotional need for security can be met. And this, so often, in the simplest of ways.
Often the solution that arises to help a previously distressed and violent dementia patient settle into a care home, lies in the stories the close family tell of that person who is now in the throes of dementia. The clues are there ready to be found and pieced together. This Stokes does with skill, tact and compassion.
Stokes demonstrates clearly how there is a 'method to their madness' ; that each behaviour can be explained by the deep human need for security.
When each story is 'resolved' , there is great relief and satisfaction for all who enter into the story of that patient. This serves to remind us of the understated value of person-centred care.
It also sets out high standards for dementia care homes. It encourages families to look for care homes that offer no less than the person-centred care, of which Dr Stokes is a clear advocate.
This book should be read by anyone who has contact with a person who has dementia and for those who are interested in understanding dementia as an illness and its impact on the family which it visits.
It tells the stories of various patients Graham Stokes had met as a clinical psychologist and how he enables previously unexplained, discordant behaviour to be understood in the context of the patient's personality, previous experience, traumas and fears.
He demonstrates the highest respect for his patients and shows how, by a process of detective-style investigations, he enables care staff to see where each of his patients are coming from and ultimately, how their emotional need for security can be met. And this, so often, in the simplest of ways.
Often the solution that arises to help a previously distressed and violent dementia patient settle into a care home, lies in the stories the close family tell of that person who is now in the throes of dementia. The clues are there ready to be found and pieced together. This Stokes does with skill, tact and compassion.
Stokes demonstrates clearly how there is a 'method to their madness' ; that each behaviour can be explained by the deep human need for security.
When each story is 'resolved' , there is great relief and satisfaction for all who enter into the story of that patient. This serves to remind us of the understated value of person-centred care.
It also sets out high standards for dementia care homes. It encourages families to look for care homes that offer no less than the person-centred care, of which Dr Stokes is a clear advocate.
This book should be read by anyone who has contact with a person who has dementia and for those who are interested in understanding dementia as an illness and its impact on the family which it visits.
August 20, 2025
This is a worthwhile read on dementia by a thoughtful writer who works in that field. It's always a challenging subject to read about, the positives being few and far between. The stories here are straightforwardly told, each with some fresh insights, though there's also a degree of repetition, as perhaps is hard to avoid with this condition. The central messages are implicit more than clearly stated and expanded - I suppose advocacy of a person-centred approach is the central message, an approach requiring a certain conscious attitude - not always encouraged enough in care settings - as well as compassion.
October 12, 2017
EL gran valor del llibre és mostrar com gran part dels simptomes de la demència (incontinència, agresivitat....) no són sinó malentesos entre el malalt, que només recorda l'ara però té tics del passat, i la gent que l'envolta.
En canvi, el narrador (l'autor) es mostra una mica arrogant i ególatra.
En canvi, el narrador (l'autor) es mostra una mica arrogant i ególatra.
January 11, 2018
As I move into helping provide care for people with dementia, this has been a most enlightening read. In many ways it is a challenging read, but challenging in the sense that it forces you to change thinking and behaviour. I am glad I read it as I began my new job, rather than some time done the road.
August 25, 2017
This book in my opinion was very uplifting despite the subject matter it shows ways that dementia patients lives can be improved. A must read for anyone who works in the field.
September 13, 2013
Graham Stokes es psicólogo clínico especializado en el tratamiento de enfermedades mentales de las personas mayores. En su empeño por demostrar que la demencia, una de las dolencias más graves, puede tratarse con métodos más comprensivos, ha escrito varios libros divulgativos. Uno de ellos es Y la música sigue sonando.
Los protagonistas de las veintidós historias de las que se compone el libro son dementes que comparten ciertas características: comportamientos agresivos, recurrentes o incomprensibles, que molestan, desconciertan y asustan a cuidadores y/o familiares y que, por tanto, los convierten en casos perdidos. El trabajo de Stokes es el de demostrar en cada uno de ellos que, a pesar del deterioro de las facultades mentales de los enfermos, si se escarba lo suficiente y se interpreta su comportamiento como algo más que “consecuencia de la demencia sin solución”, pacientes, cuidadores y familiares pueden llevar vidas más fáciles.
Precisamente a los cuidadores y a los familiares está dedicado el texto. Yo no soy ni una cosa ni otra y lo he pasado bastante mal con ciertos casos. La demencia es una enfermedad desesperante. Algunos enfocan hacia los familiares pero como buena egocéntrica yo me pongo en el lugar del enfermo. La idea de dejar de ser uno mismo y ni siquiera darse cuenta me aterroriza. Por eso la otra idea de que siempre queda algo de ti, aunque solo sea una manía, me reconforta. Un poco.
Los protagonistas de las veintidós historias de las que se compone el libro son dementes que comparten ciertas características: comportamientos agresivos, recurrentes o incomprensibles, que molestan, desconciertan y asustan a cuidadores y/o familiares y que, por tanto, los convierten en casos perdidos. El trabajo de Stokes es el de demostrar en cada uno de ellos que, a pesar del deterioro de las facultades mentales de los enfermos, si se escarba lo suficiente y se interpreta su comportamiento como algo más que “consecuencia de la demencia sin solución”, pacientes, cuidadores y familiares pueden llevar vidas más fáciles.
Precisamente a los cuidadores y a los familiares está dedicado el texto. Yo no soy ni una cosa ni otra y lo he pasado bastante mal con ciertos casos. La demencia es una enfermedad desesperante. Algunos enfocan hacia los familiares pero como buena egocéntrica yo me pongo en el lugar del enfermo. La idea de dejar de ser uno mismo y ni siquiera darse cuenta me aterroriza. Por eso la otra idea de que siempre queda algo de ti, aunque solo sea una manía, me reconforta. Un poco.
February 22, 2018
This book has come at exactly the right time for me - through the stories told it has enabled me to understand fully what is meant by ‘person-centred’ care. So often Care Plans boil down to whether someone prefers tea or coffee, a bath or a shower; what job or profession they had and a who is who family tree. Graham Stokes shows that a little (or a lot) of detective work can be invaluable in enabling both the person living with dementia and their carer(s) - whether at home or in residential care - to live together more harmoniously. Understanding is the key. I found it difficult to put down.
August 25, 2020
Insight to challenge for people living with dementia
How do we see the actions of a person living with dementia grounded in conscious thought when we are told the cognitive abilities was changing. Dr Stokes reminds us to remember that much of the behaviour is not a reflection of prevailing environment but responses to embodied actions to a reality not perceived by the observer. This should be read by families, carers and others seeking a window through which to look at the person and think how they feel. That it is giving good feelings not necessarily efficient care.
How do we see the actions of a person living with dementia grounded in conscious thought when we are told the cognitive abilities was changing. Dr Stokes reminds us to remember that much of the behaviour is not a reflection of prevailing environment but responses to embodied actions to a reality not perceived by the observer. This should be read by families, carers and others seeking a window through which to look at the person and think how they feel. That it is giving good feelings not necessarily efficient care.
September 19, 2014
Amazing book, with a real insight into person centred dementia care. Made me cry more than once, and has also helped me become better t my job. Highly recommended.
August 23, 2016
I so wish I'd found this book years ago, it's excellent an so focuses on specific person centred scenarios
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November 29, 2020An excellent insight into different behaviours linked with Alzheimers.
very helpful for those caring for people living with the disease.
very helpful for those caring for people living with the disease.
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