There is a saying that when you do not have the words to speak, you sing, and this principle is at the core of musical therapy in dementia care homes.
The saying, commonly ascribed to Broadway actress Laura Benanti, was originally used to describe the emotional power of the musical, but music is a very powerful means to communicate, to remember and to express yourself.
Many care homes incorporate music therapy into their practice, either by playing a loved one’s favourite songs, having music groups to help people with dementia connect with each other and the music they love, or spreading joy throughout the home.
Using music to help people’s wellbeing dates back to Ancient Greece, and most people have an experience where listening to music helped them feel better, improved their mood and enabled them to focus on what they are doing.
With dementia, the benefits are even stronger and can, in some cases, even slow the progression of dementia.
What Are The Benefits Of Music For People With Dementia?
- It unlocks memories, emotions and feelings that are harder to express in other ways.
- It can provide comfort, particularly if there are memories associated with a song.
- It can stimulate the mind, encourage movement and social engagement.
What Music Provides The Most Benefits To People With Dementia?
Given that music is subjective, the best music to play is songs and pieces that a person is familiar with and really enjoys, as they will react positively to it, start to hum, sing along, dance or talk about what the song means to them.
Friends and family members are often the best people to ask, as they know their history and which songs will resonate most.
Whilst everyone has differing tastes, soft, gentle music that is not too overwhelming is the best place to start, before moving on to other pieces that could be more intense.