The Power of Music in Senior Care
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Music has a unique power to uplift, connect and comfort - and the ability to enjoy it often remains intact well into the later stages of dementia.
Research shows that music activates areas of the brain linked to language, movement and memory, making it one of the most valuable tools available to activity professionals in senior care.
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I really enjoyed reading your article. I work in a nursing facility for Veterans as a Music & Memory Aide an I love it. It’s such a good program especially residents that have dementia. If we have a resident that’s agitated an we put the their music on it helps to calm them down. Music can take them back to happy memories from either their childhood or later in life. Music can be good for the soul. Thank you for sharing this article.
Thank you so very much for your feedback Cindy, this is very much appreciated. All the best!
My friend and I, who both have/had husbands with dementia, have had a weekly “choir” of residents at our local aged care facility for some years before the management restricted this activity due to the pandemic. We have now been given permission to resume our much appreciated and enjoyable “choir” activities.
We have a mixed bunch, from some in the early stages of dementia right through to a more advanced stage. And a sprinkling of residents who are cognitively OK.
We intend to introduce various percussion instruments this time around. I would be grateful for any ideas or advice about this as I have never used them myself.
Thanks in advance.
Hi, Patricia, interactive drum circle is an excellent activity for residents. You may start with a couple of drums and a couple of tambourines. The activity is simple, the facilitator stands in front with a drum attached to him/her. Participants are encouraged to repeat the rhythm the facilitator plays.
The session may last 15 or 30 minutes - depending on how engaged participants are. There is also Body Percussion for cognitive stimulation. Body Percussion is making rhythmic patterns with the sounds of your body: clapping, stumping, finger drumming. Again the facilitator sits in front of a group and claps, stumps, to the sound of music. Choose the music that makes people want to move e.g. The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ or ‘The Pink Panther Theme”. Here are a couple of links that may help you start a Drum Circle or Body Percussion.
https://www.goldencarers.com/drum-circle-activity-for-the-elderly/5032/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk75qDst8wE&ab_channel=ChristosDelasito
Music is one of the best meaningful activies for people with Dementia, It lights up the whole brain theirs eyes light up big smiles on their faces clapping hands tapping feet some of the residents get out their seats and start dancing,play the ukulele don't worry if you can't play sing even when you sing flat they don't judge you it's the enjoyment participation fun it's meaningful for them it brings back happy memories for them.they love it.
How does one find out what their favorite songs are if they can't answer your questions?
As to finding appropriate songs....If you know the age range(s) of those being served you can select music from their formative years. I use “Spotify” (with very nominal prices for monthly subscriptions) and download the songs that correlate with those formative years onto old I-Phones that can be connected with small amplifiers. They can be stopped and started and repeated as often as needed.. Don’t forget, however, that using nursery rhymes and pre-K and elementary school songs are very welcome as are the lullaby’s sung for infants. My dementia residents love them all.
Thanks for your feedback Shelley. Yes the article is about planning music activities in the absence of a qualified music therapist which unfortunately is a common scenario in many facilities. We will adjust the title accordingly.
Hy Lyn, congratulations on your decision to play the ukulele for the residents. As you see, it was very successful; and what a good idea to have volunteers to come periodically to sing. You are an asset to your facility!
On the first Friday of each month a group of (6) volunteers come in and sing for our residents. There are (6) very high care residents and they have warmed to the idea of the performers. I can play the ukulele and thought of bringing it in to play along as well with the singers. I was a little shy at first and stood back, being a different instrument caught everyones attention. Well I was well recieved from all around the hospital and everyone enjoys the venue of two hours. comments were made of how they had not heard of the ukulele for years. The residents look forward to seeing the group and hearing them sing and even put in requests. Those that didn't appear to be interested at first are waiting in anticipation for the singers next arrival. Even those who you would not expect to comment and ask are doing so. WOW, music is good therapy and enjoyed by all.
I would be interested in obtaining more information about the 5 basic needs of clients with dementia. I work for 3 hrs twice a week with a client with dementia. I used to take her for a drive but since she had a fall she is in a wheelchair. She has a newspaper delivered each day - and she reads out sentences but I don\'t think she understands what she is reading. I am not a diversional therapist - but I have worked in a nursing home as an AIN. Any suggestions for activities that will help stimulate her whilst I am with her would be wonderful.