Listen to this articleBelow is our recent interview with Matthew Murrell, Chief Operating Officer at Memory Lane TV:
Q: Could you provide our readers with a brief introduction to your company?
A: Memoro, Inc. is the company behind the recent launch of Memory Lane TV, a solution designed to alleviate many of the common behavioral and psychological symptoms experienced by people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. We spent more than five years developing this solution, which translates more than fifty years of published medical research on dementia, sensory stimulation, and memory activation into an effective and easy to use form factor: a streaming media service.
The creation of Memory Lane TV was inspired by the personal experience of our founder, Alban Maino, while caring for his grandmother. He explains, “When my grandmother, Rosette, was affected by Alzheimer’s, I started researching solutions to alleviate her panic attacks and constant memory loss problems, something to help manage her symptoms, but found there were no effective options available. I delved into the published research, and slowly discovered decades of investigations into sensory stimulation and memory. Eventually I was able to construct some sensory stimulation tools based on that research that helped with my Grandmother’s symptoms … This was the genesis of Memory Lane TV.”
Recommended: Sixth Largest U.S. Bank, Truist Joins The Open Invention Network Patent Non-Aggression Community
Q: Any highlights on your recent announcement?
A: Shortly after our official launch this past January, we were able to accelerate two additional features that enhance the usability and effectiveness of the core service: Integrated olfactory stimulation and our 24/7 pre-programmed channels.
We’ve designed much of our streaming content – the audio-visual stimuli – to be augmented with aromas for stimulation of the sense of smell. Effective stimulation of all three of these senses in a harmonized, coordinated way offers powerful relief for symptoms like stress, anxiety, and agitation, and can help with stimulating appetite and engagement, among other wellness benefits. As of April 1st, the Memory Lane TV community has the option to access the full multi-sensory experience.
The 24/7 pre-programmed channel, on the other hand, is all about convenience and ease of use. Memory Lane TV is first and foremost designed to be person-centered, and customizable to the unique needs of the individual (or group, when used in group settings). But care partners don’t always have time to choose the programming a la cart. When time is short, care partners can now simply switch on the 24/7 “live stream” channel and have time-of-day appropriate content on a 24-hour cycle. Disassociation from the circadian rhythm is a common challenge for people living with dementia, and one of the key aspects of our programming is to help reestablish that grounding in the natural rhythm of the day. Another important aspect is to redirect attention with specific, engaging tools to combat some of the most difficult symptoms generated by the pathology, especially beneficial with regard to combating “sundowning syndrome”, for example.
Q: Can you give us more insights into your offering?
A: Memory Lane TV serves as a low-cost complement to standard medical and pharmacological therapies. It can be customized to individuals or groups by tailoring the program’s video, still images, sounds, and aromas to the unique needs of the individuals and their care partners.
Memory Lane TV can be used equally well in group settings, such as adult care communities with memory-care units, or at home in family settings. As Diane Kibbin, director of operations at Ocean View, a facility in Falmouth, Maine explains, “Memory Lane TV is a simple and cost-effective solution that is absolutely ideal in group settings for engagement and communication. We pause on particular images, we laugh together, everyone loves it!”
Q: What can we expect from your company in next 6 months? What are your plans?
A: At present, we are able to offer our 24/7 channels time-adjusted for east coast/central users and mountain/pacific users. We are hoping to be able to expand our time zone offerings for this feature in the next 6-12 months, and eventually, we will also offer more culturally specific adaptations for the various markets.
Users can access Memory Lane TV anywhere there is a television, a computer, or a tablet with a broadband connection (we recommend a large screen, 55” or bigger for best results). And our app is available currently on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, and iOS. We will look to develop our app for other platforms and devices in the near term as well depending on where our users want us to be.
We create and add new therapeutic content on a regular basis, and we are continually evaluating and adding new resources to our caregiver library as well.
Recommended: MagicLinks Helps Brands Invest And Scale Creator Partnerships Through Data-Driven E-Commerce Platform
Q: What is the best thing about your offering that people might not know about?
A: At home, family members find that the service gives them a way to connect again with their loved one. Angie Hunt, who used Memory Lane TV at home with her mother, shares, “Mother was born in Poland and loved Polka … Memory Lane TV created a personalized film for her, filled with family photographs and home videos. Adding her favorite songs made the magic happen. We were able to reconnect with her story and her old self. This is a truly unique and mind-blowing service.”
Preserving relationships between individuals living with dementia and their loved ones is one of the most potent benefits of Memory Lane TV. Our service provides a shared experience that enables people living with memory loss and their care partners to come together and re-connect in the present moment. A mindful, integrative experience that exists nowhere else at the moment to manage the various symptoms of that pathology.
