May 20, 1993

To whom it may concern:

I have recently had several opportunities to see "Young at Heart" in action in my home state of Nevada. the founder of Young at Heart, Sean Seman, who sings and plays guitar, and James "Fingers" Shupe, a national fiddle champion, traveled to Las Vegas to do an extensive tour of fifteen nursing homes and senior centers over a ten day period, and I was able to spend one of those days with him. Simply put, the music and the program are wonderful.

Everywhere these enthusiastic musicians went, the shows were a big hit. I can give examples of people who have been brought back to life as a result of Young at Heart performances. On one occasion, Sean and Fingers performed in a Las Vegas convalescent center and when the music started, I saw an older woman in the front row who was bent over, her chin drooped down almost to her neck. She was in an almost comatose trance. As the minutes wore on, suddenly her head was up and she was part of the program. By the end of the show, she was smiling, clapping, sitting up and singing along. She seemed like a completely different person. Similar transformations also occurred to other residents.

Perhaps the most miraculous event occurred during room visits, which Young at Heart performers regularly make after their shows to visit individual patients who may be so sick that they are bound to their rooms. Fingers visited Carmela, a resident who had refused to come out of her room for years. He went with my wife, who tried to get Carmela to talk and to get interested in what was going on. The music got Carmela interested. she talked about her children, and eventually Fingers and my wife had to move on. Carmela proceeded to put on her clothes and follow him around the home as he played for others. The nursing home staff was amazed.

What I saw in these performances convinced me that music can really have a profound effect on older persons -- and we need to ensure that our senior citizens have access to these benefits. Young at Heart is all about bringing people like Carmela back to life. As health care costs spiral out of control, we need to consider such new, inexpensive approaches. Groups like Young at Heart prove that music can work like preventive medicine, and we need more of that to face our current health care crisis. Nobody does it better than Young at Heart -- they are the real pros.

One of the best things about young at Heart is that they play songs from the 20's, 30's, and 40's -- music popular when seniors were young. I chaired a hearing of the Senate Aging committee where we examined music therapy. Leading researchers testified that these old favorites are the most effective type of music with senior citizens. Dr. Oliver Sacks, author of Awakenings, which became and Oscar-nominated movie starring Robin Williams, testified at the hearing. He testified that just any music won't work with any patient -- but the right music can have profound effects. Young at Heart takes the time to learn the songs that work best -- and their deep impact on audiences proves it.

Another witness at the hearing, singer and actor Theodore Bikel, best explained why live programs like Young at Heart are so important. He asked, "Do tapes and records furnished to the elderly have the same beneficial effect as a live musical experience? I doubt it. If it is true that pets are a source of great comfort and healing for the elderly, then surely toy dogs won't be just as good."

Young at Heart is living proof that live music can remind older persons how it is to be healthier, happier and more fulfilled. Musicians who care about their elders can bring joy and even new life to those confined to institutions or wheelchairs. I am working to see that programs modeled on Young at Heart expand nationwide, because I can see the need for similar efforts in every nursing home in the United States.

Sincerely,

Harry Reid
United States Senator