Can you imagine a life without music? It would be awfully quiet, wouldn’t it? It’d make it that much harder to give voice to our myriad emotions: heartbreak and elation, rage and frustration.
Music has nostalgic and sentimental value in the way we associate some of our best and worst moments with a song or melody. Listening to those old songs again can take you right back and help you relive those memories. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that music therapy is being used as therapy for seniors to help them in various ways. Let’s look at some of the main benefits of music for older adults.
The Benefits of Music for Senior Citizens
Improves Memory
Music has a remarkable effect on seniors with memory-related issues like dementia or Alzheimer’s. There have been countless studies where music helped the patients recover memories that they had previously lost. Music therapy also helps in delaying the onset of symptoms. It can improve seniors’ cognitive speed and slow the process of cognitive decline while also promoting a sense of wellbeing and health.
Encourages Being Social
One of the biggest issues faced by seniors as they get older is loneliness. Socializing becomes rare at an age when people crave the company of friends and like-minded people the most. Music can encourage seniors to make friends and enjoy the company of others. At get-togethers for seniors, they often play old music that they love from their youth, giving them a chance to bond and revel in old memories.
Gets Them Moving
Even the less actively-inclined know the impact music can have on exercise—the right mix can get you pumped and ready to give it all you’ve got. Music therapy encourages seniors to move and exercise as well. Whether it’s walking, lifting weights, doing some light yoga, or cardio, music will motivate them to keep moving. Exercise releases endorphins that can promote an overall feeling of positivity and wellbeing.
The Worth of Music
The benefits of music are countless, it stimulates brain activity and can improve cognition. It makes social interactions easier and helps seniors form close bonds and make friends. It also encourages physical activity; exercise not only becomes easier but also more enjoyable and rewarding. Music also promotes an overall state of wellbeing and health.
The staff at Visiting Angels have the compassion, training, and experience required to ensure that the seniors under our care continue to live their best lives. Our job is to facilitate them while they live in the comfort of their own homes.
Whether they require senior home care, companion care, personal care, or respite care, Visiting Angels guarantee it is the best possible care. If your loved one needs a little extra help, give us a call today!