Did you know that the mind can hold memories that are connected to music for a long time? Even some people who have Alzheimer’s disease can hold onto these memories. Music can also help someone to calm down, engage in activities, and remember things from their past. If you are caring for your elderly loved one, it might be a good idea to learn more about how music therapy can benefit them the most.
Picking Memory-Sparking Songs
One of the ways that you can help your elderly loved one to get the most out of music therapy is by picking memory-sparking songs. You should choose songs that your elderly loved one used to listen to when they were a kid or when they were a younger adult. These songs can help to spark memories from these years of your elderly loved one’s life.
Choosing Lively and Upbeat Songs
At certain times, it could also be a good idea to pick lively and upbeat songs for your elderly loved one. These songs could motivate your elderly loved one to get up and get moving. They might make your elderly loved one want to dance, tap their feet, and smile. Most of the time, lively and upbeat songs will put your elderly loved one in a good mood. If you or an elder care provider notice that your elderly loved one is stressed out, this type of music can help relieve that stress.
Picking Calmer Music
On other occasions, calmer music might help your elderly loved one better than lively and upbeat music. For instance, if your elderly loved one is feeling overwhelmed, calmer music might be able to help them relax. In addition, if your elderly loved one is having a tough time falling asleep, this type of music could help them to fall asleep easier.
Conclusion
There are so many different benefits that the elderly can get from music therapy. You or elder care providers can play music in your elderly loved one’s home. You can play anything from the music they listened to as a child to the music they have recently been listening to. You can also play lively, upbeat music or calmer music. Different circumstances might call for different types of music. You can even ask your elderly loved one want mood they are in. Then, you can look up music playlists for that particular mood.
Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/participating-arts-creates-paths-healthy-aging
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4066923/
