Tips for Using Music to Help a Loved One with Dementia or Alzheimer’s
If you have a loved one who is fighting memory loss, it can be frustrating for him or her and challenging for you to find creative ways to help your relative increase his or her self-worth. However, music therapy might be something that will add joy back into his or her daily routine.
Research suggests listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. For example, music can relieve stress, reduce anxiety and depression, and keep agitation at bay. Songs provide a way for your loved one to connect with others, even after verbal communication has become difficult. Music is also powerful because it can spark memories and feelings.
If you’d like to use music to help a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, consider these tips:
1. Identify music that’s familiar and enjoyable to your loved one.
If possible, let the person choose the music or ask what his or her favorite songs were/are. If that’s not feasible, try to think about your loved one’s preferences or play songs and see how he or she responds. Ask yourself what kind of music he or she enjoys, or what music evokes memories of happy times in his or her life. It may be easier to pick some popular songs most people know. Some recognizable tunes may be:
- “Singing in the Rain” by Gene Kelly
- “You Are My Sunshine” by Jimmie Davis
- “Amazing Grace” by various artists
- “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King
- “Moon River” by Andy Williams
- “Can’t Buy Me Love” by the Beatles
- “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
- “Peggy Sue” by Buddy Holly
To find out more, try asking other family members or friends around the same age. You can also reflect on concerts and shows your relative has attended. Engage him or her, if possible, by asking what he or she remembers about the song. It may remind him or her of a person or joyful moment.
2. Use music to cheer up or calm your relative.
Music can shift a person’s feelings, manage stress, and stimulate positive interaction. A tranquil piece of music can help you create a calm environment for your relative, while a faster-paced song from someone’s childhood may boost his or her spirit and evoke happy memories. You may try calming your loved one during mealtime or a morning hygiene routine by playing or singing soothing music. When you’d like to boost your loved one’s mood, try more upbeat music.
3. Encourage movement.
Helping your loved one move to the music may add to his or her enjoyment of listening to and singing the song. It’s important to guide your relative through the movements, which can range from tapping a foot and humming a tune to clapping and dancing. This is a great way to add aerobic activity to your loved one’s routine and help improve his or her mood. Therapists who add exercise and dance movements to music say it soon becomes a favorite activity for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.
4. Avoid sensory overload.
When playing music, you should eliminate competing noises. Some ways to do this are shutting windows and doors and turning off the television. You’ll also want to avoid overstimulation and set the volume based on your loved one’s hearing ability (so it’s not too loud or too quiet).
Try to find music that isn’t interrupted by commercials, which can cause confusion. Radio stations have frequent advertisements and commentary, so CDs, iTunes playlists, and internet radio sites like Pandora or Spotify might be better options. If others are in the room, ask them to avoid conversations unless they are helping you with music therapy.
5. Sing along, but pay attention to your loved one’s response.
By singing along with your loved one, you can assist in boosting his or her mood while enhancing your relationship. Some early studies also suggest musical memory functions differently from other types of memory, and singing can stimulate unique memories. Songs are engaging, and they allow one to feel more comfortable (and enjoy life a little more!). Music also requires little to no mental processing, so singing does not require the cognitive function that is not present in most dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.
An important note: If your loved one seems to enjoy particular songs, play and sing them often. But if he or she reacts negatively to a particular tune or type of music, choose something else. You’ll want to closely observe your relative’s responses to music so you can keep him or her feeling peaceful.
Music is not only engaging and enjoyable, but it may also have a profound effect on loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. With these tips, you can help your relative stay calm and maybe even recall a happy memory or two.
Safe-T Home Care is an in-home care agency in Monticello, Indiana. We provide services such as transportation, personal care, and companionship to your loved ones so they can remain safely at home and maintain as much independence as possible. For more information, please visit our website or like us on Facebook.