What is Music Therapy?

Music Therapy is a clinical and evidence-based form of therapy that uses music to improve emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being. For individuals with memory loss, music therapy can spark recognition, encourage communication, and bring comfort by engaging the brain in unique ways.

Practices of Music Therapy

Music therapy is not just listening to music. It is a structured form of therapy led by trained therapists or adapted to be utilized at home. Some common practices may include..

Listening to personalized playlists: These should be songs that are familiar or have meaning to the patient.
Singing or Humming: Using these techniques with favorite tunes of the patient can help spark memory recall and engagement in what you're doing.
Playing Instruments: Drums, shakers, piano, etc, to encourage movement or spark emotions in a patient.
Movement to music: Using gestures such as clapping, tapping, dancing, or even swaying can help encourage not only physical engagement but also spark joy.
Guided relaxation: Using calming melodies or familiar music can help reduce anxiety and agitation in a patient.

How to know if Music Therapy is right for you

When trying to find non-pharmaceutical options to help with memory loss, it can be very hard to find areas of hope. However, music therapy may be a good fit for your loved one if...

They respond well and or positively to music. This could be through tapping feet, singing, or showing feelings of relaxation when music is played.
They enjoy familiar songs from their past or have a strong emotional connection to a specific song or type of music.

Families who may be unsure can also try slowly introducing music in small ways at home. A positive response, such as improvement in mood, reduced stress, or increased communication, may be a sign that music therapy can be a strong and beneficial option.