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0 While it’s true that there is no cure for dementia, music therapy can be a helpful tool for people who suffer from memory loss. Dementia patients can use music as a way to reconnect with the past and create happy memories. Music therapy can include playing an instrument, singing, directing music listening, discussing lyrics, dancing, and relaxation exercises. The right playlist can bring a person’s memories back to life. Read on to learn more about how dementia music therapy can be beneficial for your loved one.
Research-based music therapy can help patients with memory loss develop cognitive, emotional, and social expressions. It can also improve the environment at home by reducing agitation and promoting positive mental health. Here are some common goals of dementia music therapy:
Personalized music therapy has numerous benefits. Music intervention is an inexpensive, easy way to help PWDs improve their mood, behaviour, and overall quality of life. Personalized music interventions can be delivered through headphones, an iPod, or CD player. Individuals can even use a variety of songs from different eras to customize their music intervention. A study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry in 2017 revealed that dementia patients who received music therapy experienced significantly reduced agitation, a major cause of the BPSD symptoms.
Besides reducing agitation and encouraging movement, dementia music can help people with memory loss hear and appreciate music differently. When choosing music for your loved one, make sure there is no competing noise. Make sure you choose a level that’s appropriate for the person’s temperament and endurance. You can also use a favorite recording to help them reminisce and enjoy the experience.
While music has a positive impact on dementia patients’ memory, researchers are not sure what exactly it can do. For one thing, music is believed to affect the chemistry of the brain, and this has therapeutic effects that are beyond the scope of any one study. Studies suggest that music therapy can improve moods and increase self-esteem in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The results of such research are promising. With these findings, dementia music therapy can help caregivers communicate with their loved one in a more effective way.
The Fifth Dementia band is unique. The members of the band are all different and have vastly different musical backgrounds. All members were in the band together since 2014, and have dementia. They all play different musical instruments and are able to talk and interact with others. All of them share the common goal of fostering a sense of community through music. In addition to promoting awareness of the disease, the band also helps caregivers understand their loved ones’ feelings and emotions.
The benefits of music therapy for dementia are well documented. Music therapy can improve cognition, decrease pain, and increase socialization. A recent meta-analysis involving 13 articles included 580 patients. The results showed significant improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms. Many people experience improved cognitive function, hand coordination, and memory as a result of music therapy. Music can also reduce symptoms of depression and other mental health conditions associated with dementia.
