Mom with dementia bursts into a happy song when she realizes her carer is actually her doting son

A mom with dementia doesn’t know her son while they’re out for a walk. She sings a lovely song when she recognizes him.

Sebastian was strolling with his mom, Ingrid, and had to remind her that he was her son, not just a kind caretaker.

As they walked, Sebastian asked his mom if she knew who he was. Ingrid, holding onto his arm, replied, “You’re a lovely carer.”

Sebastian asked, “What if I told you I was your son?” Confused, the mom with dementia thought her son was a caregiver with the same name.

Initially, she didn’t believe him, insisting that he resembled her son, Sebastian.

Ingrid laughed happily and hugged her child tightly when she realized her son, Sebastian, had come to see her.

‘I haven’t seen you for a long time, my son,’ she said.

They then began singing their version of “We’ll Meet Again,” a famous song by English singer Dame Vera Lynn from the 1940s.

“Ingrid wants to meet Sebastian some sunny day, some sunny day, because Ingrid loves Sebastian very much,” Ingrid sang, showing her love for her son, Sebastian.

Sebastian described his close relationship with his mom and how her illness has affected their family. He praised her as a source of love and happiness, noting her constant singing and the admiration she receives from everyone.

Despite her changing condition over the last eight years, Sebastian emphasized that his mom with dementia remains a shining beacon of light.

“My mom is the brightest star in the sky,” he said.

Ingrid showed early signs of dementia.

While living in Australia, Sebastian noticed peculiar behavior, like her filling the fridge with unnecessary items excessively, leading to her diagnosis.

Sebastian and his sister Pascal wanted to create memories with their mom before her dementia worsened.

They took their mom, who has dementia, to the beach and walked with Pascal’s dog.

Sebastian also took her to Hawaii for a speaking engagement, where he taught her how to surf.

Despite the joy and applause from beachgoers when she surfed, Ingrid couldn’t remember the trip a few days later.

While in the US, Sebastian often FaceTimes his mom with her caregivers’ assistance.

Due to her lack of understanding about phones, the caregivers organize the calls, and even if she doesn’t recognize him, she still greets him as “Sebastian.”

Sebastian has also founded a movement called 100 Things, which helps people set and reach their goals, encouraging them to pursue happiness.

At 24, Sebastian lost a friend, prompting deep reflection on his own happiness and regrets.

“If I die today, can I look back at my life and say that I was really happy and wouldn’t change anything? And I realized almost instantly that I would change everything,” he said.

He has already ticked off 76 out of 100 things on his list. He urges others to prioritize love and empathy in their lives.

Worldwide, about 50 million people live with dementia, and almost 10 million new cases arise annually.

Dementia causes a gradual decline in cognitive abilities, affecting memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning, language, and judgment, according to WHO.

Regrettably, there’s no cure for dementia, so patients depend greatly on care and support from their families to navigate its challenges.

Meanwhile, recent research suggests that music therapy can effectively reduce anxiety, depression, and apathy in individuals with dementia, according to Artis Senior Living.

This has prompted assisted living facilities to incorporate music therapy into treatment plans to improve residents’ lives despite the cognitive decline.

A study on Alzheimer’s patients found that their memory for music remains intact, enabling them to recognize songs and lyrics similarly to those without the disease.

Music’s therapeutic impact on dementia patients is attributed to its ability to stimulate multiple parts of the brain, including those related to language, mood, movement, and sensory perception.

As a result, music therapy is considered an essential aspect of treatment, enhancing the quality of life and overall well-being of dementia patients.

Watch the heartwarming moment between Sebastian and his mom with dementia, Ingrid:

You can follow Sebastian and learn more about 100 Things through Instagram.