Using Music to Benefit Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care
Science and behavioral health experts have proven music provides a form of therapy for people with Alzheimer’s. General benefits of listening to music for all people include:
- Listening to music and playing music can help keep the brain healthy. It is an exercise for the brain, therefore it can help with mental sharpness, much like working puzzles and problem solving.
- Old memories can resurface with music.
- Music can change a mood. It can soothe, make you feel happy or even pump you up and make you feel elated. It can even cause you to feel sad, depending on the tempo.
- Music can help improve the quality of sleep.
- It can reduce the perception of pain.
- Listening to music can help reduce stress.
- Music can help to speed recovery among post-surgical patients and stroke patients.
Each of these reasons work for people of all ages and demographic. However, with people dealing with Alzheimer’s and Dementia, music can do this and more. It can help to bring back positive feelings and emotions from past memories, seemingly lost for decades. Using music for therapy as part of Alzheimer’s and Dementia care can help improve the quality of life for the patient and any family and care takers.
It doesn’t take an expert music therapist to share the benefits of music. Even as a personal care assistant, providing music for your clients can help make the time you’re with them more soothing. Find out what kind of music your clients enjoy, or provide background music quietly while they are resting, eating or participating in activities.
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