Before her dementia diagnosis, my aunt was definitely a lover of music. She would love to sing her favorite songs growing up or attend concerts of her favorite artists. Because of this, that’s why we as a family always try to engage her with music. Doing this is very important for anyone you know battling dementia or Alzheimer’s. What are some of the ways music is so important for people going through this condition? I recently read an article about this and here are some ways that stand out.
Music has always been known as the stress reliever. There’s no doubt about that. It’s also reduces anxiety and depression. Where will we be without it in our lives? Probably filled with stress and anxiety. That’s why it’s so important we utilize it, front and center, in our sick loved ones life.
Research shows that musical memories are often preserved in Alzheimer’s disease because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged by the disease. So if you want to see flashes of your loved one’s old personality, let the music play. Little by little, you’ll see them come out of their shell.
It’s also beneficial for those with dementia having a hard time engaging in conversation with you. This condition has definitely had that effect on my aunt. That’s why music is so important in encouraging her to communicate more.
Another important thing to know is to be selective in the types of music you play around them. If your loved one likes certain songs by certain artists, play those songs more often around them. For example, because my aunt has her favorite female singers, my mom would sometimes play their music to get her to react emotionally. While it’s not the cure-all to everything, music does help in reducing stress and booting up the brain of a dementia patient. For more information on how you could utilize music to help someone dealing with this condition, check out the article I mentioned earlier, “Could music help someone with Alzheimer’s?” at www.mayoclinic.org.
