Music Therapy for Older Folks
Whenever we think about music, we almost always come up with some reason to crack a smile. Music is a truly transformative art, and it can leave a passionate stain on our hearts long after we’ve heard a memorable melody. When you think about it, it makes complete sense that music could be a winning way to engage those older and elderly family members that are near and dear to us. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are two of the biggest threats to the health of an elderly person: and using music to reignite memories that have been locked away so long could make a world of difference in their lives!
The Unknown Upsides of Music
The concept of music therapy is not new per se, but it’s still not an idea that many people had even considered, until 2014 ushered in the introduction of the captivating American documentary film Alive Inside. Alive Inside shines a light on the positive effects that music can have on senior citizens and the elderly. Research has proven that music seems to stimulate the brain in a way that nothing else can: and there’s no denying how powerful it can be when put to the test.
If you happen to provide care for an elderly individual that you know personally, you might want to consider using music as a tool for healing. Believe it or not, it’s all too simple to put music therapy into action right in your own home! Any music device or mp3 player that can be hooked up to a pair of headphones is more than enough. If you can ask them directly, find out some of their favorite songs that they use to listen to when they were younger. Load the mp3 player with some of their favorite tunes, and then slip the headphones on so they can listen and enjoy! Adjust the volume as necessary so the music isn’t coming through too loudly, and assist them with making song changes if they so choose to.
Time to Groove
We have all kinds of feelings wrapped up in the music we love the most, and using it to cope with disease is a great thing! The most beautiful thing about music therapy is that it doesn’t require much from you to get started. Even if you’re still quite agile in your lifestyle, using music to help you remain active is a wonderful idea. All too often we seem to believe that exercising only counts when you’re at the gym, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Expressing yourself through dance can be so fun: and it counts as good exercise as well! If you’ve got some great jams, tidying up the house or washing the dishes becomes less of a hassle. You don’t have to be the most talented two-stepper in the world, but just moving your body and working those muscles will take you a long way when it comes to being healthy.
Music is infectious for the spirit in the best way, and it can bring overwhelming pleasure into someone’s life: even if only for a few moments. If there’s someone in your life that you believe can benefit from music therapy, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give it a shot!