Music’s healing power can affect everyone in a positive way, but it is particularly impactful and beneficial for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Learn more about how they are impacted below through music therapy.

Introduction to World Music Therapy Day & Music’s Effect On the Mind.

World Music Therapy Day occurs every year on March 1^stand is recognized as a day where everyone can celebrate music’s healing power. Music therapy is using music in a therapeutic way to help improve one’s mood and communication skills, as well as reduce stress. There have been several studies that show that music has many benefits for those who listen to it, particularly those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. One study from the University of Miami showed that the brain produces more “feel-good chemicals” in Alzheimer’s patients when they heard more music. This leads to improved mood and better cognitive function.

The Advantages of Music Therapy

There are many advantages of music therapy. Improving one’s mood to where they are more sociable is one advantage. A second one is increased movement, as a catchy tune can get your loved one to get up and move around, even to where they dance to the music. A third advantage is better communication skills, as your loved one can communicate their thoughts to you through music when verbal communication becomes too difficult. A fourth advantage is better memory; oftentimes, patients can remember lyrics to old songs they like, even when they have issues recalling other information and events.  

Using Music Therapy to Help and Support Senior Alzheimer & Dementia Patients

CapitalCity Nurses, a home care agency in Frederick, MD, utilizes music therapy to help Alzheimer’s and dementia patients with their mental wellness to help provide a healthier life for your loved seniors. Your elderly loved ones can select songs of their choice, style, and time period that they are familiar with, while you pay attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues they show while they’re listening to the music they chose. Encouraging their appreciation in and even participation in creating music can help improve their in-home care and personal care by their improved ability to better deal with the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

In addition to utilizing music therapy, Capital City Nurses provides other critical in-home care services for seniors such as providing a safe home environment to help prevent any injuries, companionship care so that they do not feel alone and still feel connected to others when family members and friends are not available, rehab and post-op to help them recover from injuries or illness, and medication management to ensure they are taking the right amount of medication at the proper times to help promote better health.

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Contact us and let us know what your loved one needs from us to make his or her life better. We will work with you to improve the quality of your loved one’s life as much as possible!