Studies have shown that integrating music into a senior’s daily routine is an excellent way to stimulate memory and improve overall quality of life. Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, or a related dementia, are particularly receptive to the therapeutic benefits of music.

The team at Always Best Care is dedicated to enriching the lives of the seniors we care for. Our Care Managers and Home Health Aides promote music as a therapeutic intervention for the clients and community members we serve. The following is a short list of the potential benefits of music.     

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of reasons why music is beneficial for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Therapeutic Reminiscence

Music is strongly associated with evoking experiential memories that often elicit feelings of happiness and joy. The part of the brain responsible for consolidating memories and recording positive and negative experiences continues to respond to music even as dementia spreads across multiple regions of the cerebral cortex.  That means that family caregivers can employ music as tool to connect with their loved ones even in the later stages of the disease.

Emotional Benefits for Enriching Memory Care

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are susceptible to depression, confusion and apathy. A study conducted by the University of Miami School of Medicine found music and music therapy increases “feel good chemicals”, including melatonin, serotonin, and prolactin, which may improve mood.

Music helps reduce feelings of depression and apathy, minimizes stress, promotes healthy interactions and evokes positive emotions and thoughts. Music is an excellent way to shift negative thought patterns that lead to depression and apathy. This has been especially true when music is implemented into their lives on a daily basis.

Meaningful Connection With Loved Ones

Some family members find engaging loved ones in the later stages of dementia a difficult task.  Integrating music to foster meaningful connections can promote more fulfilling interactions for both the person with memory challenges and their family members.   

Always Best Care South Bay and West Los Angeles offers a continuum of senior care solutions that assist families at every stage of the aging journey including: non-medical home care, assisted living finder services, specialized memory care, care management, counseling, and community education.  For more information, please call (310) 792-8666.  You might also RSVP for one of our upcoming events. We will be hosting New Perspective on Alzheimer’s & Genetic Testing on March 20th and a weekly Memory Club every Thursday starting March 15th.