Who hasn’t ever been excited listening to a song? Music has the power to move us and also to evoke deep and lasting memories. Even in advanced stages of dementia, songs can awaken emotional and episodic memories, helping people reconnect with their identity and past experiences. This is the basis of music therapy for older people, an activity with multiple benefits that at NAMI we carry out with our residents in order to promote active aging, and especially with those who have Alzheimer’s or severe cognitive impairment.
What is music therapy?
Music therapy is a therapeutic discipline that uses music, not for musical purposes, but as a tool topromote the emotional, physical, cognitive and social well-being of people.
As a non-invasive therapy with neurological, physiological and psychological scope, music therapy is applied in a wide variety of contexts and ages, including people with developmental disorders, physical or mental disabilities, chronic diseases, neurological disorders, mental health problems, as well as in geriatric and palliative care.
Music therapy in older people can take various forms, ranging from simply listening to music to actively participating in music creation, whether playing instruments, singing or improvising. It is the therapist who is in charge of adapting the musical interventions according to the needs and abilities of each individual. Thus, in our NAMI centers, the methodology of each workshop, which usually lasts around an hour, varies depending on the number of people who attend and the degree of dependency or autonomy that the attendees have.
Objectives of music therapy in older people
The goal of music therapy for older people is to use the power of music to improve the quality of life and promote people’s overall well-being, taking advantage of its unique ability to connect, express, heal and transform.
Some of the benefits and objectives of music therapy in older people are:
- Cognitive stimulation: music helps us maintain and improve cognitive skills, such as memory, attention, concentration and temporal orientation, which is especially relevant in cases of cognitive decline associated with aging.
- Improves emotional health: music therapy in older people also helps express and process emotions, reduce anxiety, stress and depression, as well as foster feelings of joy, tranquility and emotional connection.
- Increases socialization: music therapy workshops are an excellent opportunity for social interaction and connection with other people through group musical activities. It also promotes a sense of belonging to the group and mutual support.
- Improved quality of life: music therapy workshops for older people also offer pleasant experiences, increasing self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Reduction of pain and physical discomfort: music is also used to relieve pain and other physical symptoms, through relaxation techniques, conscious breathing and auditory distraction.
- Helps remember: it is proven that music allows us to evoke autobiographical memories and promotes communication and storytelling. This is especially interesting for older adults with dementia or other neurodegenerative conditions.
- Promotes coordination: Music therapy activities for seniors also serve to encourage active participation, whether playing instruments, singing or even dancing or moving to the rhythm. This also improves physical functionality, motor coordination and autonomy in daily life.
When is music therapy recommended for older people?
Music therapy in older people can be highly recommended and especially beneficial in certain circumstances:
- Cognitive impairment: When there is mild or moderate cognitive impairment, as in the case of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, music therapy can help maintain cognitive skills, stimulate memory and improve mood.
- Emotional problems: For those older people with mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety or stress, music therapy can be an effective tool to reduce symptoms, improve emotional well-being and promote self-expression.
- Social isolation: music therapy for older people is also positive when there is a risk of social isolation or when the person experiences unwanted loneliness. In these cases, music therapy workshops can provide a way to connect with other people.
- Palliative care: In the context of palliative care or end-of-life care, music therapy can offer comfort, emotional support and allows difficult emotions to be expressed, thus improving communication between the patient and family.
- Physical rehabilitation: If the person is recovering from an illness, injury, or surgery, music therapy may also be part of a rehabilitation program to improve mobility, coordination, and physical functionality.
- Entertainment: even if there is no special reason, music therapy is recommended for any older person who is interested in exploring new forms of expression, participating in creative activities and promoting their general well-being.
We develop different activities that, while being stimulating, enriching and improve physical and emotional skills, are also moments of leisure and fun. Music therapy or arteterapia workshops are examples of this.
If you want more information about music therapy for the elderly, as well as the rest of the workshops and activities that we carry out in the NAMI Day Centers and Residences, do not hesitate to contact us. At NAMI we are specialists in the care of the elderly and dependents and we have facilities designed to offer our seniors a safe, pleasant and very stimulating space.
