Welcome to Alicia’s monthly advice column where she’ll provide tips on caring for a loved one with —dementia. Alicia Seaver is the Director of Memory Care at Bridges® by EPOCH and is a certified memory impairment specialist. This month’s topic is music therapy.
What is your favorite song? Can you hear it playing in your head now? What memories does it bring to mind? Music is powerful and can be quite emotional. Major moments in our lives have occurred against the backdrop of our favorite songs, and many of us use music to unwind and escape our busy lives. For people with dementia, music has countless benefits. Soothing sounds can ease stress-induced agitation. Upbeat rhythms can lift moods and facilitate interpersonal interaction. And while music requires little to no brain power to process, engaging with music can increase cognitive functioning and trigger memories.
When using music as a therapeutic tool, the beats, rhythms, instruments and overall mood of a song should be considered. Stimulative music that is upbeat and fast can be used to promote movement in your loved one, while sedative music that is slow and soothing can be used to calm and relax them. Familiar music, like the song a love one danced to at his or her wedding, can trigger lost memories. Unfamiliar music, a song that carries no emotional attachment, can reduce anxiety and help with sleep.
Making music can also be therapeutic. Instruments like tambourines and drums can easily be played by people with dementia. They can also clap their hands and stomp along to beats in a song. When actively engaging with music, the body and mind are stimulated. And if your loved ones want to dance along with you or others while listening to a song, they get the added benefits of physical closeness, positive interpersonal interaction, and of course, exercise!
There are many ways to incorporate music into your loved one’s daily activities:
- Give them an iPod or other device loaded with their favorite songs. Download playlists of soothing songs to help with stressful situations and lively songs to help motivate them to move around and be active. Bridges by EPOCH’s Melody Connections music therapy program provides residents with iPods, headphones and personalized playlists.
- Use music to help your loved one engage. Play sing-alongs and American folk songs when family members visit and have everyone join in on the fun. Put on oldies and pop songs from your loved one’s youth when their friends visit, encouraging everyone to sing and reminisce together.
- Connect with music therapy classes at local senior centers or councils on aging. A scheduled class provides structure for your loved one on top of the benefits of music therapy. Bridges by EPOCH also hosts music therapy classes that are open to the public.
- Make sure musical devices are user friendly. Complicated listening devices and bundles of headphones and wires can be difficult for your loved one to work. Bridges by EPOCH uses Eversound headphones, which are wireless, portable, chargeable, and can be connected to any musical device or hearing aid.
When playing music for your loved one, be sure to block out other confusing distractions. Shut the windows, turn off the TV and choose uninterrupted songs to avoid sensory overload. Work with your loved one to identify songs they’ll enjoy, and be sure to keep music at a reasonable volume.
If you have questions on how to incorporate music therapy into your loved one’s routine, please feel free to reach out to me—I’d love to hear from you.
If there is a topic you would like Alicia to discuss, please send suggestions to [email protected].