Amazing news to now have the full support of the charity to share the song as part of a special story featuring on all social media for The Alzheimers Society this month.
In October 2022, the song and story will…
Read more“The disease might hide the person underneath, but there's still a person in there who needs your love and attention.” - Jamie Calandriello
Please click the 'DOWNLOAD: YOUR PRICE' button above to donate and download the "Still Just You" song and lyrics to take and share wherever you go. 100% of all donations are given to The Alzheimer’s Society (Registered Charity Number 296645)*. Thank you for your generosity.
On iPhone, you'll receive a download link after donating (check your Junk
Please click the 'DOWNLOAD: YOUR PRICE' button above to donate and download the "Still Just You" song and lyrics to take and share wherever you go. 100% of all donations are given to The Alzheimer’s Society (Registered Charity Number 296645)*. Thank you for your generosity.
On iPhone, you'll receive a download link after donating (check your Junk folder, sorry!) and from there you'll receive the song, the lyrics and the front page image from the website in a .ZIP file. When you click on the .ZIP file, you can unpack it to your 'FILES' app and save on your phone or to iCloud to be accessible from any of your Apple devices. Unfortunately you can't add it to your Apple Music or iTunes library directly due to security limitations unless you have a Mac computer. Hope that helps!
*less minimal card payment processing charges and web hosting.
In the time it takes to listen to this song, another person in the UK is diagnosed with dementia. Let's beat this. Together.
Mar 7 2021
Nov 27 2020
Nov 16 2020
Nov 16 2020
Nov 16 2020
During the last decade that Mum lived with Alzheimers, I realised that whatever changes were happening and however upsetting they may be, she was still just our Mum and much loved Nanna.
Always quick to jump on her feet and show us how to dance and hum along to her favourite songs with her new friends in Field Lodge Care Home, the way we talked together was not as it used to be butt we learned to read how she was feeling.
It was up to me to see past the physical and mental changes and communicate with her in a way that she understood and could appreciate. Deep inside it was always still her, maybe hidden by a moment of confusion or anger, but with patience, careful listening and a little bit of second guessing we could turn communication challenges into smiles, laughter and even impromptu hugs.
The greatest reward would often happen when I'd been sharing what her grandchildren had been up to with pictures and videos. Our special connection would put her at such an ease she would suddenly and surprisingly speak a perfectly formed sentence, calmly spoken with relaxed confidence and a smile. Just like it used to be.
And I'd say “..it’s still just you!”.
I started thinking seriously of creating a song about my experience of dementia in 2019. I remember sitting in a small hilltop village in Southern Spain on a songwriting retreat, feeling a powerful urge to share my own experiences of Mum’s journey with Alzheimer's.
It was a challenge to find the balance of both a positive uplifting chorus, and a storytelling verse of honesty reflecting on Mum and her family living with this condition during the difficult phase of moving from forgetful to unable to take care of herself.
After many weeks of lyrical, melodic and musical development sitting at a piano with a pen and paper, I was super pleased to find what I was looking for and create the unplugged piano and vocal version of "Still Just You".
I hope this song will inspire families to help them realise they’re not alone, and that their loved ones are still just them. Sometimes hiding, but always accessible with enough love and patience and the knowledge they can hear you, and they'll love you for listening to what's on their mind.
Let me know if you'd like to hear an unplugged acoustic version of the song in the "Your Thoughts" section below, and I'll make it happen.