Music Connects Us

We all have favourite songs that we’ve collected over the years.  Music reminds us of old times passed, memories, and special moments in life. Music can make us feel deep feelings of joy, sadness, and even excitement.  Music does the same people with Alzheimer’s disease as it does for us—it connects us to others and ourselves.  Dementia may take away your ability to remember facts and faces, but it does not take away feelings.

There are practitioners that use Music Therapy to help improve memory for people with Alzheimer’s. The Music Therapy Association of British Columbia writes on their website about the benefits of this therapy on those with dementia. It states “Music can serve a means of communication for those where the function of language has become very challenging or lost.” According to music therapist and author Alicia Ann Clair identifies four main benefits for those with late stage dementia:

1. Changes in facial expression and tension
2. Increased eye contact
3. Vocal activity
4. Physical movement

Music Therapy

As a caregiver to your loved one with dementia, you can create your own program of music therapy.  All you need is music! Whether on an iPod or stereo, find songs and music that your loved one grew up with. Upbeat music can help lift mood and even distract from upsetting behaviour. If your loved one knows the songs you play and the lyrics, he or she may start singing along. You’ve then accessed their deep and innate memory.

Good music is good music, so putting on music to brighten the mood is great. However, music that your loved one knows is best to connect with them. If your loved one grew up in another country, try playing songs in their mother tongue. Look up music by decade and see what your loved one responds to. Even ask your loved one, who is their favourite singer.

Setting up a music schedule can be very beneficial to caregiving. The right music before dinnertime or bedtime can bring about a good and expected reaction. You can train their memory to know what might be coming up next in their daily schedule. It could be a great benefit to the caregiver, if the task that the loved one does not like (such as bath time!) is eased with the kind of music they respond to positively.  Are you having trouble with your daily schedule? Please call me for tips, 778-789-1496.

Karen 🙂

Karen Tyrell, CPCA, CDCP
Dementia Solutions

www.DementiaSolutions.ca