Music therapy offers powerful benefits for people living with dementia (PLWD) by reaching parts of the brain that remain responsive even as cognitive abilities decline. This therapeutic approach taps into preserved procedural memory, allowing individuals to connect with memories, emotions, and abilities that might otherwise seem lost. Music therapy can stimulate cognitive function, provide emotional comfort, enhance mood, and facilitate meaningful social interactions. In Hovi Care’s rehabilitation programmes, music serves as a valuable tool that aligns perfectly with our family-oriented approach to elderly care, creating opportunities for connection and improved quality of life even as memory fades.
What is music therapy and how is it used in dementia care?
Music therapy is a structured therapeutic approach that uses musical experiences to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. For people with dementia, it involves carefully selected musical activities including listening, singing, playing instruments, or moving to music, all facilitated by trained professionals.
In dementia care settings, music therapy is particularly valuable because musical abilities often remain intact even when other cognitive functions decline. This happens because procedural memory—the memory for learned skills like playing an instrument or singing familiar songs—is remarkably resistant to decline, even in advanced stages of dementia.
At Hovi Care’s Hovi Club, our senior activity centre, music therapy forms an integral part of our active aging programmes. We incorporate musical activities that stimulate memories, encourage social engagement, and provide cognitive exercise. These sessions are thoughtfully designed to be both enjoyable and therapeutic, reflecting our commitment to creating meaningful experiences for those we care for.
Music therapy sessions might include singing familiar songs, playing simple instruments, or moving to rhythm. What makes these activities powerful is how they engage multiple brain regions simultaneously, creating a rich cognitive experience that can bypass some of the communication difficulties often experienced by people with dementia.
How does music therapy stimulate cognitive function in dementia patients?
Music therapy provides remarkable cognitive stimulation for people with dementia by activating numerous brain regions simultaneously. Even when memory and language abilities decline, the brain’s response to music often remains preserved, creating pathways for cognitive engagement that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Research indicates that musical activities challenge the brain to find patterns, make connections, and engage creatively—all crucial aspects of maintaining cognitive function. When a person with dementia hears a familiar melody, it can activate memories associated with that music, temporarily improving recall and orientation.
At Hovi Care, we design environments that are cosy, stimulating, and secure, incorporating music therapy as part of our cognitive rehabilitation approach. Musical activities are carefully structured to provide appropriate levels of challenge without causing frustration, similar to how brain games and puzzles can help reduce cognitive decline.
Particularly impressive is how music can help with memory recall. A person with dementia who struggles to remember recent events might suddenly recall lyrics to songs from their youth with surprising accuracy. This phenomenon illustrates how music can access neural pathways that remain intact despite the progression of dementia.
The cognitive benefits extend beyond the music sessions themselves. Regular participation in music therapy has been shown to help maintain attention, concentration, and processing speed—cognitive skills that are often affected by dementia but can be preserved through consistent stimulation and practice.
What emotional benefits does music therapy provide for people with dementia?
Music therapy offers profound emotional benefits for people with dementia, often reaching them on an emotional level when other forms of communication become challenging. The emotional impact of familiar music can be immediate and powerful, evoking feelings of joy, comfort, and connection.
For many people with dementia, music from their formative years triggers not just memories but the emotions associated with significant life events. This emotional connection can help reduce agitation, anxiety, and depression—common challenges faced by people living with dementia. The familiarity of beloved songs creates a sense of security in what might otherwise feel like a confusing world.
At Hovi Care, we respect each client’s unique needs and musical preferences, understanding that personalised care extends to the songs and musical styles that hold meaning for each individual. This individualised approach to music therapy supports our core value of treating each person with dignity and respect.
Music also offers an outlet for emotional expression when words become difficult. A person with dementia who struggles with verbal communication might still be able to express themselves through singing, humming, or moving to music, providing a valuable channel for emotional release and self-expression.
The emotional benefits of music therapy connect closely with hearing health, as the ability to clearly perceive and enjoy music depends significantly on hearing function. By addressing both musical engagement and sensory needs, we create more opportunities for emotional wellbeing.
How can music therapy improve social interaction in dementia care settings?
Music therapy creates powerful opportunities for social connection, often bringing people with dementia out of isolation and into meaningful interactions with others. Group music sessions at our Hovi Club encourage participation, sharing, and communication in ways that other activities sometimes cannot achieve.
When people with dementia participate in group singing, rhythmic activities, or musical games, they experience a sense of belonging and community. Music creates a shared experience that transcends cognitive limitations, allowing individuals to connect through rhythm, melody, and shared memories rather than relying solely on verbal communication.
Family members and caregivers often report that musical activities provide rare moments of connection with their loved ones living with dementia. A person who may not recognise family members might suddenly become engaged and present when hearing a familiar song, creating precious opportunities for meaningful interaction.
At Hovi Care, our family-oriented approach to senior living and care embraces music as a tool for strengthening bonds between residents, staff, and visiting family members. We’ve observed how musical activities can transform the social atmosphere in our care settings, creating moments of joy and connection that ripple through the entire community.
The social benefits extend beyond the immediate music session. Regular participation in group music activities helps maintain social skills, builds relationships between participants, and creates a sense of community that can improve overall quality of life for people with dementia in residential care settings.
Key takeaways: Implementing music therapy in comprehensive dementia care
Effective implementation of music therapy within comprehensive dementia care requires thoughtful integration into daily routines and care plans. At Hovi Care, we’ve found that consistent, personalised musical experiences yield the most significant benefits for people with dementia.
The most effective music therapy approaches are those tailored to individual preferences, cultural backgrounds, and personal histories. Creating personalised playlists that include songs from a person’s young adulthood (ages 18-25) often provides the strongest responses, as these musical memories tend to remain accessible even in advanced stages of dementia.
Timing matters when implementing music therapy. Using calm, soothing music during personal care routines or before bedtime can reduce anxiety and agitation, while more energetic, rhythmic music might be appropriate during physical activity sessions or to stimulate engagement during the day.
Family involvement enhances the effectiveness of music therapy. When family members share information about musical preferences and participate in musical activities, it creates powerful opportunities for connection. We encourage families to bring familiar music from home and to participate in musical moments during visits.
As part of our commitment to enhancing quality of life for seniors, Hovi Care integrates music therapy with other evidence-based approaches to create comprehensive care plans that address physical, emotional, and social needs. This holistic approach reflects our understanding that wellbeing encompasses many dimensions, with music serving as one powerful tool within our broader commitment to personalised, family-oriented care.
