These days, music is more widely accessible than ever before. For people who carry smartphones or tablets with them everywhere they go, hundreds of thousands – if not tens of millions of musical selections – are merely a few touches or finger swipes away. If you’re a family caregiver, your smartphone may become one of the most valuable tools in your possession to tap into the benefits of music for seniors. This popular video clip from the Alive Inside documentary shows just how tremendously powerful music can be for older individuals with restricted abilities and dementia. Contact us online for call us at (215) 826-7422 to learn more about how we can help seniors enjoy the benefits of music.
Music for Every Taste is Readily Available
With massive musical libraries immediately available from places like iTunes, Pandora, Rhapsody, Spotify, and many others, we can now find music, often for no cost, in a range of genres in only seconds. Caregivers can find out what kinds of music the senior liked to listen to throughout his or her lifetime. It may be related to a certain period of time, such as Big Band music, or it may be unique to his or her religious affiliations, like gospel or hymns, for instance. Also, music could be linked to the person’s ethnic history – such as those who prefer reggae or salsa. The older adult may also have enjoyed a specific musical genre like jazz, blues, classical, country, and so on. Regardless of the musical preference, access to music could have incredible benefits for seniors.
Music Can Spark Long-Term Memories
Have you ever listened to a song on the radio and have it take you back to a distinct time in your life? Research has uncovered that music is strongly linked to personal memories. The human brain is essentially hard-wired to associate music with long-term memories. This is true even for individuals with moderate to severe dementia.
Music & Memory is a non-profit organization that brings personalized music into the lives of seniors through digital music technology, immensely elevating quality of life. The staff at Music & Memory provide training for family caregivers on how to create and utilize individualized playlists with digital devices to allow older adults who have dementia and other challenges to reconnect with the world through memories from music.
Research has also uncovered that hearing music that is familiar and well-loved can assist in lowering anxiety levels and enhance focus on the present timeframe, which in turn encourages seniors with dementia to connect to those around them.
At Effraim Home Care, our intent is always to improve the quality of life for seniors through our skilled dementia home care services and support. And, we go the extra mile in the little things that can bring joy to the days of those we serve – such as through music and other creative activities. Contact us today at (215) 826-7422 to learn more about our award-winning senior care in Bryn Mawr and the surrounding areas.
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