“Jim Morford, 79, can’t remember his monthly visits with his wife, Linda, to Orchestra Hall the past 15 years, but his love for the symphony continues,” writes Minnah Arshad in Monday’s (7/19) Detroit Free Press. “Before Alzheimer’s disease took away those memories, they had season passes to the classical concerts at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra…. Their trips to Orchestra Hall became less frequent. When COVID-19 hit, they stopped going altogether.… The DSO held virtual performances for the Greater Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association…. The DSO underwent Dementia Friendly Saline’s business training, which is an hour-long session on what dementia is, how it changes through stages and how to accommodate people with dementia…. The orchestra … is now working to bring back dementia-friendly events from the pre-pandemic era…. This month, The Henry Ford and Detroit Symphony Orchestra teamed up to offer a virtual event with a presentation on Jim Henson, ‘The Muppets’ creator, and a string quartet performance from the DSO.” DSO Community Engagement Manager Clare Valenti said, “You just don’t know who’s going to walk through the door at Orchestra Hall, so we need to learn how to accommodate and really make everyone feel truly welcome in our space.”
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