Music therapy is helping seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia every day.
No one knows the origin of music, but it is believed to have existed before documented history. Historians believe it began from the noise of thunder, or the rhythm of a flowing stream.
Human music might have started with primitive males attempting to simulate these noises by repeating the sounds and tonality. Even at present, distinct cultures make use of music that mimics natural sounds they hear.
Apart from the typical bird tune and animals tapping on hollowed logs to mark their area, the human voice is stated to have been the very first musical instrument.
Today, we use music as a way to treat tension in individuals with stress and anxiety conditions. Most professionals call it music therapy. This type of treatment is as old as the works of Aristotle.
The U.S. military used music therapy during World War One and World War Two. Those who are old enough probably remember how Bob Hope used music and humor to uplift the spirits of soldiers during WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and later conflicts.
Local artists would also go to healthcare facilities to comfort soldiers who were hurt physically or mentally. Today, these same treatments use music to accomplish healing objectives.
These objectives might consist of promoting health, handling tension, easing discomfort, boosting memory, enhancing interaction, and improving physical rehab.
How Does Music Therapy Work
Current research reveals that listening to music during a stress and anxiety attack can have a calming effect. This can help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
It also has a positive effect on anyone experiencing stress and anxiety before dental treatment or medical surgery. You can administer music therapy quickly. It is an affordable, non-invasive, and non-life threatening tool for stress and anxiety.
Music is a highly effective type of expression. It integrates words and tunes to obtain messages. Some tunes might activate multiple memories in your mind.
This is the greatest evidence that music impacts human feelings. Offering seniors with stress and anxiety conditions an innovative outlet such as music might be a great way for them to gradually tell you the source of their stress and fears and ease their state of mind.
Caregivers can also utilize music treatment for tension relief. An active method of music therapy for caregivers might consist of singing, drumming and using the guitar to make noises.
Listening to music is a passive way for relaxation. Music can likewise be utilized throughout an exercise workout, or with yoga, or tai chi.
Assisted living facilities and nursing homes understand the value of music therapy to enhance memory and moods of their residents. Applewood Our House has successfully implemented iPods for seniors for several years now. Our South Lakewood location also uses Sonos sound system, which allows residents to listen to personalized playlists in their rooms.
Music and Memory is a non-profit organization that works in extensive neuroscience research. They bring personalized music to the elderly to help trigger memories in those with dementia and with other cognitive challenges.
Dance Therapy Research
A big step? Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Wake Forest University have teamed up for a three year clinical trial. They will test improvisational dance as dementia therapy (Click to Read More).
If you think about it, dancing is the perfect partner to music. Many seniors like to sing, and if you put on the right music, they want to dance, too!
If nothing else, dancing will help give seniors an additional activity to try. They will burn off a few calories, and most likely, they will definitely have fun!
Dance Therapy – Conclusion
Music is essential in the daily lives of many Americans. From the primitive caveman to the contemporary researcher, most would concur that music is undoubtedly food for the soul, and it does an excellent job with the mind and body, as well.
