IF YOU HAVE a basic musical background, you can teach people who have dementia a magical new way to experience music. The ringing of bells is an ancient practice and resonates with a language that requires no words but provides wonderful emotional expression for those that cannot communicate verbally or have no musical experience. Handchimes are a high-quality type of handbell that have a beautiful tone and are easy for people with special needs to manage.

Author KRISTINE THEURER, ("Toy-er"), MTA is an accredited Music Therapist with the CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC THERAPY. She has presented music therapy workshops at conferences such as the Alzheimer Disease International world conference and the Alzheimer Europe Conference. As a music therapist she specializes in the field of dementia and related disorders and has years of extensive hands-on experience. She is also a recording artist and performing singer/songwriter who currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.