Playlist from the Past: The Power of Music for People with Dementia
It’s a simple truth: music holds the power to reach us in the most difficult times and the darkest places. During the pandemic, many good news stories have involved music in some way. Take the singing hospital housekeeper, who uses his vocal talents to uplift and inspire patients and staff alike at South County Hospital. Or the former marketer who now devotes his life to bringing music to residents at nursing homes, assisted living facilities and retirement centers throughout New England.
Many of us know how powerful music can be from experience, but research backs it up, too. In fact, studies show that music is a powerful way to reach and support people with dementia.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “studies have shown music may reduce agitation and improve behavioral issues that are common in the middle-stages of the disease. Even in the late-stages of Alzheimer’s, a person may be able to tap a beat or sing lyrics to a song from childhood. Music provides a way to connect, even after verbal communication has become difficult.”
Research has found that listening to music, playing music and participating in music therapy can yield huge benefits. Those include improved memory; reduced stress, anxiety and agitation; reduced blood pressure; better self-esteem and perception of quality of life, to name just a few.
So how do you get started with using music to better your loved one’s life? The Mayo Clinic offers several suggestions:
- Choose music that your loved one enjoys, that will take them back to happy times in their life
- Prevent overstimulation by eliminating competing noises and choosing commercial-free music
- Encourage movement and singing along
- Pay attention to their reaction: if the response to a certain song is good, play it more. If not, remove it from the playlist.
Music & Memory, a non-profit organization that has partnered with Brown University’s Center for Long-Term Care Quality & Innovation, suggests the following tips for creating a good playlist for your loved one:
“We recommend creating a 20-30 song playlist from their youth and offering it for 30 minutes at a time as often as is needed or enjoyed. To ensure it’s highly personalized for greatest impact, try to find top songs from when they were 15-25 years old. We also suggest offering it proactively before medical appointments or social occasions.”
You can request a copy of Music & Memory’s free guide to creating playlists via the resources section of their website.
Research done right here in Rhode Island has shown the benefits of music are measurable and concrete. A study from Brown found that nursing home patients who listened to music tailored to their tastes and memories needed less anti-anxiety and anti-psychotic medication.