A song can sometimes reach a place that words cannot.

That idea is at the heart of “Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory,” an inspiring documentary that explores the connections among music, memory, identity and human connection, particularly for people living with dementia.

The film will be featured Dec. 4 during a free Lunch and Learn screening at the Fairhope Public Library. The event will run from noon to 2 p.m. in the Giddens Conference Center at the library, 501 E. Fairhope Ave.

The screening is being presented by the Fairhope Public Library with Unity on the Eastern Shore and Eastern Shore Healthy Community as co-sponsors.

The event invites caregivers, health care professionals, family members, friends, community members and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of dementia to see dementia care through a different lens — one that recognizes the person beyond the diagnosis.

“Alive Inside” examines the remarkable connection between music and memory and the ways familiar songs can help people reconnect with pieces of themselves and with the people around them.

The subject carries particular weight as millions of Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. More than 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2026. Nearly 13 million Americans provide unpaid care for someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, creating financial and emotional effects that reach families, caregivers and communities.

Yet behind those numbers are individuals — mothers and fathers, spouses and friends — whose memories may fade while their capacity to connect, feel and experience joy can remain.

That human perspective is central to the film and to the Fairhope screening, which organizers hope will encourage attendees to consider what may still be possible for people living with dementia.

The screening will be followed by a conversation about the film and the role music can play in preserving connection and quality of life for people living with dementia.

The event is free. For more information, contact Eastern Shore Healthy Community and Unity on the Eastern Shore through Lindsay Young or Mark Hammond at unityeasternshore@gmail.com or (901) 604-8913.