National pastime brings cheer to those suffering from dementia in St. Louis
Leaves are falling as the last wisps of summer fade away. Fall is here—that means baseball pennant races. St. Louis Cardinals fans’ memories are full of those heated races to make it to the playoffs, and this season is no different.
The buzz of the crowd can be heard approaching the east gate of Busch Stadium as the Cards, sitting only one and a half games away from a wildcard playoff, prepare to take on a divisional rival.
Walking up those steps into hallowed ground, pictures and statues of Stan “The Man” Musial, Ozzie Smith and “The Gashouse Gang” line the red brick walls. These stars of old are immortalized in the images, just like they are in the minds of teenage boys from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
Upon walking into the aisle, God’s most beautiful sight appears: the baseball diamond. The smells, sights and sounds of a baseball stadium transport us back to a time where, from the first pitch to the last out, die-hard fans are stuck in a world where nothing else matters.
Baseball comforts and eases the mind. Baseball remains a huge part of our life, our soul and, most importantly, our memory.
Saint Louis University has recently teamed up with the St. Louis VA Medical Clinic and the St. Louis Cardinals to start a support group for veterans with dementia and other memory-loss illnesses.
The group, named the Cardinals Reminiscence League, consists of war veterans who meet twice a month to swap stories of the “good ol’ days,” back when stars like the beloved Stan Musial played. The organizers and creators of the league sought to bring the veterans back to the game—to something they are comfortable around. The veterans have had the opportunity to get up close and personal with Cardinals memorabilia, like game-used bats and gloves, dating to their teenage years.
The program was originally based on a successful support group that was started in Scotland for veterans who enjoyed soccer. Dr. John Morley and Dr. Nina Tumosa took that idea and applied it to baseball. Baseball, a game unchanged throughout time, is one thing that beats in the heart of every St. Louisan. The goal of the project is to provide a social outlet to those affected directly and indirectly to dementia.
“Dementia is something that everyone is afraid of; they don’t understand it,” Tumosa said. “When you lose your mind, you lose the ability to learn. We think of ourselves as constantly evolving, and when you cannot learn anymore you are shut off from others.” The illness has a potential to render its victims and those around them powerless. Dementia affects the cognition and short-term memory. However, it still keeps long term memories intact.
This support group isn’t proven to aid in the treatment of dementia, but rather to give the veterans (and caregivers) something to celebrate: baseball.
“When we get older, making ourselves happy is far more important than living longer,” Morley said. “The concept is to improve the quality of life of the individual and to allow people to feel valuable, as well as to elevate the mood.”
As the season winds down, this preliminary trial has shown a lot about what these support groups can mean for those affected by dementia. The Cardinals Reminiscence League looks to shut down in the offseason, but they will start back up once spring training begins. Tumosa is grateful for the group’s willingness to participate.
“The St. Louis spirit is what began the process and the human spirit is what continued it,” he said.
From the first pitch to the last out, the members of the organization are all smiles and joy. Baseball has given many people a release for their everyday stresses, whether it’s by playing or simply watching from the stands.
It is tough to be sad around baseball, and that’s the magic behind the Cardinals Reminiscence League.
