A sister and brother decided to make a difference.

One year ago, Anika Ganesh, now a senior at Seven Lakes High School, and her brother, Anish Ganesh, (who is a medical student at Dell Medical School at UT Austin), started a volunteer group “Musical Memories” that does memory disco programs at memory care facilities in Katy.

“We envision a community where every individual impacted by memory loss feels valued, supported, and celebrated through innovative and inclusive programs like Memory Disco,” reads the nonprofit’s vision statement.

“Anika has always had a personal connection to music and dancing, she has loved it ever since she was a child,” said proud parent Viji Alur Ganesh in an email to the Katy Times. “She later found that the thing she loves so much could greatly benefit memory care patients and knew what she had to do. In later stages of her grandmother's life music was the only means she was able to connect with her. With Anika’s deep compassion and love for others she started to go out and do good in the world, connecting members in the community with music—the global language.”

The program is based on an Ohio nonprofit called the “Day By Day Project,” and they operate nationally. According to the Day By Day website at daybydayproject.org, its mission is to transform dementia care through music. “Emotional memories are encoded rhythmically in the brain and that is one of the only skills preserved throughout dementia,” says the site.

Currently 22% of memory care facilities in Ohio have adopted this program, said Alur. “Anika’s tried to spin volunteer organization in Katy,” Viji Alur Ganesh said. “The memory care facilities, seniors and caregivers tremendously benefit from this program, and we have written testimonials of that. Our volunteers have fulfilling experience of making a community impact as they are able to bring joy these seniors and gives them a perspective of life itself.”

Atria Senior Living and Caydance Assisted Living, both in Katy, are currently participating in the Memory Disco Program and the nonprofit plans to further expand this into three or four more facilities in the next year or so, Viji Alur Ganesh said. Approximately, 200 residents have been helped through the Musical Memories Katy Disco Program to date.

Annually, Musical Memories conducts about 24 Memory Discos at the two facilities, directing one to two programs each month. Over the summer the number of programs may increase to three or four programs each month.

“Most of the residents are more cheerful after we conduct one of our silent discos,” Viji Alur Ganesh said. “They feel renewed and re-energized after the Memory Disco(s).”

Viji Alur Ganesh added that researchers from Southwestern Oklahoma University and the University of Kansas found that the combination of movement (walking) with rhythmic engagement (either small percussion instrument or singing) led to an improvement in attention function for people with dementia, which is a particular area of difficulty. Researchers from the University of British Columbia conducted a

study in 2021 where they found that silent discos were perceived as an easy-to-use tool that leads to positive attitudes in patients and caregivers.

“Dementia rapidly reduces the attention span of a person, making it difficult for them to concentrate and engage with music,” Viji Alur Ganesh said. “In contrast, the headphones make the person focused and immersed in the present moment.”

Medical student Anish Ganesh personally makes visits to these facilities when he in town. Several students and their family members around the Katy area volunteer with the group regularly.

As the organization grows, they hope to recruit more volunteers, Viji Alur Ganesh said.

“Our dedicated volunteers look above and beyond volunteering hours to make a change in the community as this is student run organization often times we struggle to satisfy the rules of student council and National Honor Society,” said Viji Alur Ganesh. “But we understand we needed to create a sustainable program for our seniors with memory care issues that can live beyond our high school years and we strive for that.”

There are other ways to help, too. Donations to the nonprofit will help expand its reach, said Viji Alur Ganesh. “Our Memory Disco Kits are carefully crafted to inspire joy, blending classic music with easy-to-use, interactive features that captivate people of all ages. This initiative helps fund our mission. With your support, we plan to assemble and donate these kits to local community programs, such as libraries, community centers, and even barber shops, spreading the magic of music to more people and places. Every donation enables us to create additional kits, extending their reach to those who will benefit most—from seniors reconnecting with cherished tunes to families discovering new ways to bond and have fun together.” To volunteer or to learn more, visit the group’s website at www.musicalmemorieskaty.org.