Thompson House, a division of Northern Dutchess Residential Health Care Facility, Rhinebeck, NY

Thompson House, also known as The Northern Dutchess Residential Health Care Facility, was located on the grounds of the Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, New York. Its skilled nursing facility was home to 100 residents who needed considerable help with daily living. Once a month, from mid-2018 to mid-2020, when COVID prevented us from entering the building, Linda and I put on a program called “Music and Memories.” For about half an hour, while the residents were being brought to the room where the program was held, I played familiar folk, campfire, and spiritual songs on my harmonica. Then, we reviewed some songs that were popular when most of the residents were teenagers. For each song, we played a popular recording of the song and Linda mused about what memories it brought up for her. We did this, of course, to help our audience recall significant events in the lives they led before they became incapacitated. If there was time, we would do some sing-alongs, which I accompanied on my baritone ukulele. Then we would end up with a rousing Louis Armstrong recording of “When You’re Smiling,” which we hoped would leave them with a smile, even if some of the elicited memories have been sad ones.