Music Therapy Activities

Music Therapy Activities

Recent research is confirming what caregivers have known for centuries: Music holds incredible power to heal, transform, and inspire. A March 2014 study by the Alzheimer Society of Toronto’s iPod Project found that benefits of music and music therapy include “improved cognition, communication, and quality of life for older persons with ADOD [Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia]” as well as “an improved ability to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) such as depression, anxiety, agitation, and aggression.” Pretty impressive results for something that seems so simple!

Benefits of Music Therapy

So how does it work? Experts explain that listening to music exercises our brain in the same way that physical therapy can exercise other muscles in the body, strengthening it and building pathways and patterns that lead to improved function. It can also reduce pain, lower heart rate and blood pressure, accelerate healing, and improve neurological function. Music impacts social skills too, boosting learning, increasing social interaction, and reducing anxiety, AARP finds.

The positive effects of music can be seen across age ranges, ailments, and severity of illness, helping people with everything from Parkinson’s to depression to autism. Another study of Alzheimer’s patients found that after receiving one hour of personalized music therapy, three times a week, for ten months, 45 patients with mid- to late-stage dementia improved their scores on a cognitive function test by 50% on average.

6 Music Therapy Ideas for Caregivers

As a caregiver, there are several ways that you can use music to benefit your patients or loved ones. They include:

1. Play music to inspire happy memories.

Find out what songs or artists carry strong positive associations, and play those tunes for your loved one by creating a dementia playlist. It may be music from their youth, songs they used to dance to, or the soundtrack from a special moment in their lives like a wedding.

2. Use music to influence mood.

Playing music that evokes happy memories, as mentioned above, is a great way to improve someone’s mood. But music can also be used to calm or soothe, or conversely, to create energy and enthusiasm for undertaking new activities.

3. Connect with younger people through music.

Music can cross all boundaries, including age. Ask younger family members, friends, or staff members what they’re listening to, and use the conversation to engage with your aging loved one. Sharing favorite songs can be a fun way to talk about culture, technology, or just find something new to listen to!

4. Make music together.

If your loved one is so inclined, consider making music! This may include simply singing along to an old favorite, drumming on the coffee table, or reinvigorating an existing skill like playing the piano. Many senior centers and communities have active choirs that provide wonderful opportunities to meet new people and make music an ongoing part of your loved one’s life.

5. Share your favorite music.

Music is incredibly impactful to caregivers as well as patients. Share your favorite tunes with your loved one. Sing along while you’re doing chores, tell stories about the memories that your music invokes, or find other ways to connect through the music that makes you happy.

6. Enlist a professional.

Professional music therapists can go beyond singing in the kitchen or choir to create a personalized program tailored to your loved one’s needs. The American Music Therapy Association is a great place to start for more information about what music therapists do, and to browse listings of music therapy professionals in your area.


Visit SeniorAdvisor.com to find assisted living in Houston and other cities.

4 Comments

  1. Wayne Caswell December 19, 2014 Reply

    Intelligent Sleep, a sleep wellness & brain fitness center in Austin, uses a variety of neurosensory methods, including sound, light & vibration therapy, as well as behavioral and metabolic (nutrition) programs to (1) reduce stress, (2) improve sleep, and (3) generally improve overall cell health. These procedures, or ones like them from other practitioners, have even been shown to delay or even reverse cognitive decline.

    As a retired IBM technologist and the founder and senior editor of Modern Health Talk, I write about health reform, the future of healthcare, and solutions for independent living and aging-in-place, and I see natural and holistic approaches to better sleep and metabolism as important tools for avoiding the need for institutional care.

  2. Chris January 20, 2015 Reply

    Fantastic – particularly the reference to playing music with positive associations. I think we’ve all had the experience of hearing a song on the radio and instantly being transported to a place and time in our lives, not just via memory but experiencing all the emotions.

  3. nanoo October 18, 2017 Reply

    Hi there to every one, since I am genuinely eager of reading this blog’s post to be updated regularly. It contains pleasant stuff.|

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Our expert Senior Living Advisors are here to help.

Learn about your care options, local communities, pricing and more, with our free services. Complete the form below to receive a call.

First & Last Name

Email Address

Phone Number

By clicking Submit, you agree to our Terms of Use. You also consent to receive calls and texts, which may be autodialed, from us and our customer communities. Your consent is not a condition to using our service. Please visit our Privacy Policy for information about our privacy practices.

×