Griswold Home Care
  • Services
  • Specialties
  • About
  • Blog
  • News
  • Caregivers
  • Franchising
  • Foundation
  • 1-800-474-7965
October 18, 2018  |  By Jeremy Rodriguez In Alzheimer's & Dementia, Depression & Mental Health, Senior Care Advice

The Benefits of Music for Elderly Adults

happy senior woman listening music with headphones while sitting on yoga mat on lawn

The relationship between music and the elderly can be beneficial both as a form of stress relief and to aid in cognitive abilities. In this piece, we will explore how music can assist seniors in living a quality life.

Music and Alzheimers

According to the American Music Therapy Association, studies have shown that music activities for the elderly can provide comfort and relief to seniors with Alzheimers and dementia. There are many ways to incorporate music therapy for the elderly, including creating playlists, popping in a sing-along DVD, or simply singing along with your loved one and the music.

John Carpente, the founder and executive director of the Rebecca Center for Music Therapy in New York, spoke with Today’s Geriatric Medicine about the benefits of music therapy for elderly patients. Carpente called music the “most engaging and emotionally powerful stimuli.”

“Listening to music can have strong effects on people’s moods, thinking, and even their physiology, which constitutes a probable reason certain songs remind us so vividly of a specific memory,” Carpente said. “That being said, memory is a mental system that receives, stores, organizes, alters, and recovers information from sensory input. Emotions and memory are very much linked, and because music is charged emotionally, it can trigger past memories, good and bad.”

Download Free Alzheimer's Guide

Music Therapy Activities for the Elderly

Activities can include:

  • Playing music around the house
  • Taking dance lessons for exercise
  • Attending a concert to encourage socialization
  • Playing musical chairs with younger children

Not sure what music will get your loved ones’ feet tapping? Take a look at this piece from DailyCaring, which rounds up all of the classic hits from several generations.

Benefits of Music for the Elderly

Music for elderly people can help promote overall health and wellness while eliciting positive memories and reactions. An elderly person can benefit from music in the following ways:

  • More exercise
    • Increases coordination and mobility
    • Provides motivation for walking, running, dancing, and stretching
  • More social interaction
    • Improves cognition and speech
    • Encourages self-expression
    • Increases self-esteem
    • Dispels anxiety, tension, and fear
  • Better overall health
    • Reduces pain and recovery time
    • Increases relaxation
    • Allows a better night’s sleep
    • Enhances mood
  • Improves memory
    • Assists in memory recall
    • Provides a communicative structure
+1
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Subscribe
Griswold Caring Times
About the Blog

Founded in 2006, CaringTimes is a resource center for those seeking home care information and support as they care for elderly parents and research senior in-home care options. Our mission is to celebrate, educate, and advocate aging issues. We highlight available resources and share our expertise during a very difficult and challenging time in many adults’ lives.

RECENT POSTS
  • Beauty Therapy for the Elderly
  • What are the Emotional Needs of the Elderly?
  • Happy Holidays: Send Cards and Write Letters to Elderly Friends and Family
  • Gifts for Seniors: What’s New This Holiday Season?
  • Checking on the Elderly: When to be Concerned
Categories:
DISCLAIMER
The CaringTimes blog pro­vides gen­eral infor­ma­tion and dis­cus­sion to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge about various health-related topics. The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and linked materials within this blog are not intended and should not be interpreted as med­ical advice. If the reader or any other per­son has a med­ical con­cern, he or she should con­sult with a licensed physi­cian or other qualified health care provider. Never forgo pro­fes­sional med­ical advice or delay in seek­ing medical attention because of some­thing you have read on this blog or in any of the linked materials. If you think you may have a med­ical emer­gency, call your doc­tor immediately.
Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Follow Us on Twitter
  • RSS Feed
Ways to Pay Discover 5 Ways to Pay DOWNLOAD THE FREE GUIDE
Guide to Home Care Take a Brochure DOWNLOAD THE FREE GUIDE
Copyright 2019 Griswold Home Care. All Rights Reserved  |  Privacy Policy   |  Terms of Use  |  Site Map
The Griswold Home Care service model varies depending on which state the office is in. In some states, our service is solely to refer thoroughly screened professional caregivers. In other states, we employ and supervise the caregivers. In every state, we’re 100% focused on quality services and responsiveness to your needs. For each office, you’ll see its service model and learn how we can best help you and your family with your home care needs.
Scroll to Top