In this article, we will be discussing Music therapy memory care and some of the best tips you can use to prevent and cure Schizophrenia in your day-to-day life and lead to a prosperous and healthy lifestyle.
Humans always share a deep connection with the music they listen to and these songs are embedded in their minds. Songs and their rhythms resonate in our bones. Music works on a subconscious and emotional level. We can learn more about the brain by studying these effects.
Music therapy is a great way to help people who have difficulty communicating connect with their feelings and express themselves. Music therapy is a vital part of Hebrew Senior Life’s care for seniors suffering from dementia.
Dementia can progress and make it harder for the person with dementia to interact and communicate with others.
Social engagement and communication are two areas where people with dementia have difficulty. It can strain their relationship with their caregivers.
A recent study on Alzheimer’s Disease & Associated Disorders on music therapy memory care revealed that using a particular form of music therapy improved social engagement for people with dementia as well as their caregivers. The intervention reduced caregiver distress.
What Do You Mean by Music Therapy?
Music therapy is not just listening to music or creating it for fun; it’s a medical discipline. The American Music Therapy Association defines music therapy memory care as “the clinical, evidence-based application of musical interventions in a therapeutic relationship to achieve individualized goals by a credentialed practitioner who has completed a music therapy program approved.”
Music therapy is an evidence-based strategy that uses melodies and harmony to improve the mental, physical, and emotional functioning of dementia patients. Music, and in particular certain styles of music, can provide sensory and intellectual stimulation that helps maintain the quality of life of a person who is suffering from cognitive decline.
The arts are used in music therapy and other expressive therapies to offer psychosocial support to seniors. Music therapy can help seniors deal with many issues including depression, anxiety and pain. It is also useful for those who are experiencing changes in their health or adjusting to new environments.
Expression therapies can also be based on other forms of art, such as poetry and movement. The majority of expressive therapists have a master’s degree in mental health counselling and formal training in the art form they specialize in. Leticia engages seniors in therapy sessions by singing, playing piano, viola and guitar, as well as percussion. She encourages them to take part at their own level.
Pros Of music therapy:
The goal of music therapy memory care is to treat the patient’s intellectual and emotional faculties. We strive to relax more and have more energy. Even with dementia patients who are in the later stages and have weakened verbal skills, music can elicit pleasant reactions and improve communication.
- It can strengthen the immune system and mood: The usage of music therapy can instantly improve one’s mood. Even if you don’t actively seek the services of a music therapist, you’ve probably felt the rush of joy that comes from listening to a favourite song or the sense of solace that comes from hearing a song that your grandmother used to sing to you. These same emotions can also be felt by adults who have dementia, providing them with relief from the worry and depression that frequently accompany the disease. Additionally, singing along to music helps expand lung capacity and promote brain oxygenation. Even simple music and singing exercises might boost immune function.
- It promotes motion: The increased healthful activity is arguably one of music therapy’s most important advantages. Music can serve as a catalyst for intentional movements, such as applauding, swaying, or dancing. This exercise can assist the patient gain strength, endurance, and balance, which can reduce the risk of falling and improve motor function when performed in the appropriate therapeutic environment.
- It facilitates communication: Verbal communication isn’t always the best option when dealing with dementia, as anyone who has worked with or cared for someone with the condition knows. Instead, when attempting to provide the person with a nice and comfortable conversation, body language and other nonverbal communication methods take centre stage. The incorporation of music into dementia communication is ideal since it provides a fresh approach to boosting good interactions and social connections.
- Reduced anxiety: Anxiety symptoms can be reduced with the aid of music therapy. Unfortunately, anxiety is frequently experienced by dementia patients. There are various causes for this, including anxiety about one’s future prospects, how their sickness will affect their quality of life, and the switch to full-time care. Someone may become more forgetful and disoriented as their dementia worsens, which will only increase their anxiety. Music therapists strive to encourage relaxation, mindfulness, and attention to the present moment through the use of peaceful music. It can be relaxing and familiarising to play or sing along to a favourite song.
- Reduce the strain on carers: Although music therapy memory care is intended to aid patients, it can also enhance the well-being of family members and carers. In general, providing care is a very demanding and exhausting task. It can become even more difficult if you include additional agitation, anxiety, and other symptoms that also occur with dementia. Music therapy lessens client suffering, which lowers the risk of carer burnout and enhances the caregiver-patient relationship.
Music therapy memory care:
For people who require memory care and art therapy for dementia, such as those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, music therapy is a well-known type of therapy that can be helpful. In order to engage and stimulate different cognitive, emotional, and social processes in people, it makes use of music.
In music therapy memory care, it can be beneficial in the following ways.
- Memory recall: Music has the extraordinary power to stimulate memories and feelings. Even those suffering from severe memory loss can frequently retain the words, melodies, or memories connected to well-known songs from their earlier years. Participating in music therapy can assist in evoking memories and fostering ties with the past.
- Emotional health: Music has a significant effect on emotions. It can improve moods, lessen anxiety, and calm down agitated people who require memory care. Creating a relaxing environment and enhancing general emotional well-being can both be achieved by listening to soothing or well-known music.
- Engaging with music increases a variety of cognitive processes, including executive functioning, attention, and concentration. Individuals with memory loss may benefit from engaging in complicated musical pieces, singing, playing instruments, or other activities that maintain and improve cognitive abilities.
- Social connection: music therapy memory care helps foster relationships and social contact between people who require memory care. Activities including group music promote interaction, involvement, and a sense of community. Participating in music-based games, playing instruments collectively, or singing in a choir helps strengthen social ties and fight loneliness.
- Playing an instrument or dancing to the beat of the music can enhance your coordination and motor abilities. These activities encourage movement and physical activity while stimulating the motor regions of the brain.
- Life quality: Music therapy can improve a person’s general quality of life if they require memory care. It offers a non-pharmacological strategy for symptom management and well-being enhancement. People can have happy, connected, and self-expressive moments by engaging with and enjoying music.
It is crucial to remember that music therapy memory care should be customised to meet the tastes and needs of each patient. Individualised programmes can be created by music therapists who specialise in working with people who require memory care and that take into consideration the person’s musical history, preferences, and skills. Music therapy memory care is a useful treatment option in memory care since these specialists are qualified to identify and cater to the unique needs and objectives of each patient.
Music therapy for older adults:
A specialised form of therapy called music therapy memory care is used to meet the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical requirements of elderly people. It is regarded as an effective strategy for increasing well-being and raising older individuals’ quality of life.
The following are some essentials of music therapy for senior citizens:
- It can improve mood, encourage relaxation, improve cognitive function, jog memories, and enhances social engagement in addition to lowering stress, anxiety, and sadness.
- Physical Advantages: Music therapy can be beneficial for one’s physical well-being. It can facilitate physical rehabilitation, help with pain management, and enhance motor skills and coordination.
- Emotional and Mental Support: Music therapy can offer older persons emotional and mental support. It gives one a way to express oneself creatively, aids in the processing of emotions, and brings delight and pleasure.
- Participating in music therapy can help older persons with their cognitive functions. It can enhance one’s capacity for memory, focus, and problem-solving. Multiple brain areas are activated by music, which is especially advantageous for people who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, or other forms of cognitive impairment.
- Social Interaction: Because music therapy frequently takes place in groups, it enables senior citizens to have fruitful social relationships. Activities involving group music foster cooperation, communication, and a sense of community, which lessens loneliness and isolation.
It is advised to speak with a licenced music therapist who can evaluate individual needs and provide a suitable treatment plan for music therapy memory care, if you or someone you know is considering music therapy for older persons.
5 Tips/ Practices for Dementia Patients at Home
You can use enjoyable activities to further encourage relaxation, lessen agitation, and boost socialisation at home after consulting with a music therapist and receiving advice. For the dementia patient, this can also aid with continuing pain control.
The following are some at-home music therapy for memory care drills to try:
- Play music from earlier eras: Playing music from a person’s youth, particularly oldies can assist reactivate parts of the brain that dementia may have left unaffected. Reliving these years may bring back pleasant memories, which will assist to calm you down.
- Create individualised playlists: Making playlists for particular emotions and feelings can aid dementia sufferers with nonverbal communication. Additionally, it can aid in their relaxation through difficult situations.
- Vocal intonation treatment (VIT): If your therapist gives the go-ahead, you can continue utilising VIT at home to improve your breath control or speaking.
- Assign songs to specific needs: Music has the power to connect people, including those who struggle to communicate due to dementia. To make expressing needs easier, try allocating songs to certain needs.
- Start Mantra Meditation: There are various possible advantages of mantra meditation for people with dementia. Although it might not be able to change or treat the underlying ailment, it can improve the affected person’s general well-being and quality of life. The following are some possible advantages of mantra meditation for dementia: calming down and reducing stress, greater clarity and attention, and improved emotional health.
We hope you found the solution to your problem in this article “music therapy memory care”.
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