Music Playlists Your Residents Will Love
Music can have many benefits for older adults living in long-term care, particularly people living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
Listening to music, singing and dancing can support wellbeing while providing opportunities for enjoyment, movement, relaxation and social connection. Familiar music can also evoke memories and emotions, encourage conversation and help residents connect with the people and world around them.
Related: The Benefits of Individual Music Activities for the Elderly
Music is now easier than ever to access. Services such as YouTube and Spotify offer an enormous variety of songs, artists and playlists to suit every taste and occasion.
Here is a brief introduction to both platforms, along with links to playlists we have created for you to enjoy with your residents.
YouTube
YouTube is a wonderful resource for music activities because residents can listen to familiar songs while watching performances, music videos and classic television clips. It is especially enjoyable when cast to a large screen for a group to watch, sing along and reminisce together.
Many of our activities include embedded YouTube videos that can be cast to a big screen for group enjoyment, including quizzes, reminiscing activities, bingo and sing-alongs.
You can also create your own YouTube playlists based on residents' favourite songs, artists, genres or eras. Preparing a playlist in advance keeps the music flowing and makes it easy to tailor sessions to the interests of your group.
Here are some YouTube playlists we have put together for you:
Spotify
Spotify works particularly well when you want music playing in the background, or would prefer an activity focused on listening, singing, dancing or reminiscing rather than watching a screen.
Playlists can be prepared in advance for different activities, occasions and musical preferences. You might create playlists for sing-alongs, gentle movement sessions, celebrations, relaxation or particular decades and genres.
When choosing music, remember that residents of a similar age will not necessarily enjoy the same songs. Personal preferences, culture, life experiences and memories can all influence a person's connection with music. Ask residents about their favourite singers, songs, genres and dances and use their suggestions to make your playlists more meaningful and personal.
Basic Spotify accounts may include advertisements and some limitations, while paid plans offer additional features and uninterrupted listening.
Here are four Spotify playlists we have created for you:
YouTube or Spotify?
Both are excellent options. YouTube adds a visual element with performances and music videos, making it especially useful for group activities and screen-based sessions. Spotify is ideal for easy, continuous listening in the background or during movement and relaxation activities.
Whichever you choose, keep residents' individual musical tastes at the heart of your playlists. Ask about favourite songs, artists, genres and music connected to special memories - and enjoy the moments of connection that music can bring.
Note: Please ensure you follow the relevant terms and conditions of each service.
Related:
Song Pictionary
Songs for Seniors Quiz
World Music Playlists
Sing-along with Picture Cards
Bing Crosby Song Quiz
The Beatles Music Bingo
We'd love to hear your feedback. Please leave your comments below.
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Good Stuff. We now have an i-pad to plug into the big screen TV. Appreciated!
I play the accordion and loved getting the playlist from Susan. I like to play from lead sheets and would welcome any links. I have been playing a Senior Assisted Living facility. Thanks.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFsw_GPN0K-PsWCUXnBgMgS21FBSKpAT
Sharing our sing along playlist in youtube. Its a combination of war songs and the likes of Englebert, The Platters and Dean Martin.
Hi Lori
Thank you so much for this information
looking for songs with lyrics. TY
Here is a great list
https://www.goldencarers.com/pdf/4565/
There are 32 pages make sure you look at them all
Some great stuff here. This is a fantastic list of songs - almost all of which I have been using regularly with my role at a Senior Living Community.
https://open.spotify.com/user/crbeggs1/playlist/0eo2GCQ8pzCrT6wDuaaI0s?si=dq-cO7SyQxGk4wOVzK4dIA
Unfortunately, a number of the youtube videos in the playlists have been removed since this was originally posted. Would be nice to know what songs those were or to see this post and it's linked content updated.
Hi Jeff,
Copyrights on music changes constantly and is different for each country, so keeping the YouTube and Spotify lists updated is only something we can do periodically. The playlists were between Spotify and YouTube were close to the same, so you can see what was removed in Spotify.
Hope that helps!
ahh good to know, Jeff. Thanks for pointing this out. We will update the playlist and let you know! Thanks again.
This is really helpful. Not only will it help me connect with my grandmother, but my school requires community service, so I want to visit a nursing home. I'm really grateful for this.
Thanks so much for your feedback Evelyn, all the best!
My mom died of Alzheimer's 2 years this week. I would have loved to had this information. I did a lot of these activities with her since it was my mom I knew her likes and dislikes. She would LOVED to had a music playlist. Something I never thought of. My suggestions to anyone w/ family member or loved one who has Alzheimer's,.
1. HAVE PATIENCE.. it's frustrating for both of you when they don't remember. Don't get aggravated if they don't remember something or someone. I had days when I went into her assisted living house. She didn't know me. I was devasted..I walked away..cried hysterically for 15 minutes ..got myself back together ..and she said Hey baby where have you been ? LEARN NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY..there will be days you'll be so frustrated you'll want to screamed.. it's just as frustrating for them. They want to remember too..but they can't. LOVE THEM UNCONDITIONALLY. they're still you family ..tell them stories about the family...if they remember it that's awesome.celebrate those days.if they don't try again tomorrow or another day. They might never remember it .don't insist that they know it...they did ..but they don't now.
GO VISIT THEM OFTEN. there's nothing more important than family. I had 2 kids in school so I'd go have lunch w/her 3x a week. Did I have other things I should be doing of course. Going food shopping,clean the house etc. NOTHING ELSE MATTERS . Enjoy their company .They love to see you. It makes their day..some days it breaks your heart when you leave b/c they're having a bad day. NEVER cry in front of them...as I used to call it give yourself a "time out" walk away for a few minutes..cry, scream, yell and get your composure and come back. It will make them feel horrible and sad to see you cry ..please...I cried in front of my mom one day when she didn't know me..the people who worked @ her assisted living house escorted me away..told me how to handle these days and moments. LOVE THEM UNCONDITIONALLY. I would give anything to be able to have our chats. I miss her hugs the most. When I'm having a bad day a mom's hug makes everything ok.
Your Mum was very lucky to have had you in her life
Thank you so much for this reminder and beautiful words Annette. All the best x
We are in the process of starting an adult daycare and these are super ideas.
Thank you all very much. I will keep updated on all of this.
What a wonderful idea. I'll be passing this one on to my resident family members.
Speaking as a music therapist, may I remind everyone that music preferences are very individualized. Songs trigger negative memories as well and you need to find out if a patient has any negative associations when you make a playlist.
My hope is to be able to play music from an MP3 player - any ideas? Residents don't have mobile phones and I-Pad is not practical. Would I need to subscribe to Spotify Premium, download to computer and then put on MP3? My understanding is that there is no free and legal way of downloading.
Hi Suzanne,
With a simple MP3 player, the best way to use it is to put MP3 files directly onto the device, usually by taking MP3s off CD's or downloading them from the web. Then you just drag them onto the MP3.
Copyright laws are grey, especially internationally. I have to add a disclaimer that I do not know what is legal or not legal, but it is possible to use online websites to convert YouTube videos into MP3 files, and then put them on the device.
Hope that helps :).
Trying to save it to my USB, is that possible? I don't have an Ipad but we do have a player that can play from USB.
Thanks Maurice!
Hi May,
I do believe it is possible to save YouTube videos to song files which you could then play on a USB, but you would have to google this. Apart from that I can't think of another solution.
Hi. In my homes we have no wifi. Is it possible to download these pieces of music into my iPad so I can use them in the homes? Thanks. Heather
Hi Heather,
The paid version of Spotify actually lets you download any songs so you don't need an internet connection to listen to them. You can do this on the iPad.
They have a free 30 day trial so that might be a good way to test it and see if it works for you.
Hi Ivan, even though in Australia, near Brisbane, no bias, we love Scottish & Irish music, former Tasmanian, love it there also! Hope we can connect via computer! Thank you!
This is a great thing. We also love music at any time. I present a weekly radio show featuring this type of music, hymns, singalongs, simple quizzes. As we're in Scotland there is a slight bias towards national likes. You can catch us on the Radio North Angus website. My show is on Fridays 10 -11.30am.
I used this activity weekly, Play U Tube, take request from all the residents individually , have a chat about the song/singer, reminisce ,, always great to liven things up and have some fun and the resident, who picked the tune , if they want to sing, give them a microphone to sing along.... visitors love it too, especially the kids, there are telling everyone they were singing along with "Granny" with U tube...great interaction,,,
Thank you! Our group love a singalong at any opportunity, many of the songs I recognise & are their vintage.
Every fortnight we have a music request afternoon. I hook the laptop to our big screen projector and we have requests from Youtube. Everyone loves the songs and accompanying clips and it always surprises me how varied the range of music is. From Vera Lynn to Queen!
Thanks, that is such great information . I am sure that my residents will benefit from this .
Vicki