Staying actively engaged is essential for seniors with progressive disorders like Alzheimer’s because it can ease symptoms and enhance their mental and physical health. Music is one of the fun activities to add to your senior loved one’s care plan. It can slow the disease’s progression and make life less stressful. Below are some of the benefits aging adults with Alzheimer’s can receive from music therapy.
1. Leads to Better Communication
The structure music therapy provides for aging adults with progressive disorders like Alzheimer’s can enhance their communication skills and make it easier to inform their caregivers when they’re hungry, tired, or uncomfortable. Music can reduce negative self-stimulatory behaviors and boost confidence in those with Alzheimer’s, which can in turn increase their participation in conversations and various beneficial activities. Like music, spoken language has a rhythm to it, so your loved one can use those rhythm patterns to communicate and comprehend better when speaking or listening to others.
Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Rocklin Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
2. Relieves Anxiety
Aggressive behavior is typical for many seniors with Alzheimer’s, but music therapy can calm your loved one’s mind and lower the odds of combative thoughts, actions, and words. Keep in mind your parent may be lashing out for other reasons, such as pain and confusion. However, aggression is often due to the brain releasing stress hormones that escalate violent behavior. Music therapy can lower the amount of cortisol, adrenaline, and other stress hormones released in the body and relieve symptoms of anxiety that often cause combative actions and feelings.
3. Increases Physical Movements
Exercise helps seniors with Alzheimer’s feel better, keeps their muscles active, and boosts their heart health. A great way to increase physical activity is to incorporate music into your loved one’s weekly schedule. The notes and rhythms in songs can motivate your loved one to dance. Your parent’s attention will focus on the sounds of the music, which can boost his or her mood and entice him or her to sway back and forth or engage in other types of physical movement while listening to the music. Play your parent’s favorite music selections or soothing songs instead of fast tunes that might cause anxiety.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of in-home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
4. Triggers Memories
Music memory is rarely impacted in seniors with Alzheimer’s, even as the disease progresses. Incorporate as many music-related activities into your loved one’s days as possible. This can include playing instruments, listening to songs, or participating in sing-alongs. Music therapy can trigger memories associated with the words of a song or the sounds of the music, which could enhance your loved one’s mood and allow him or her to remember happy times shared with others.
5. Encourages Socialization
Staying socially active can benefit the mind by keeping it alert and active. By enjoying music-related activities with you, family members, friends, medical professionals, and other caregivers, your loved one can receive the social interaction necessary to boost brain health and self-confidence while reducing blood pressure, aggression, and mental problems that make it difficult to manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
If your elderly loved one is living with Alzheimer’s and needs help managing the symptoms, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Alzheimer’s care. Rocklin seniors can rely on our revolutionary Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program that promotes cognitive health and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. CTM also encourages seniors to engage with others in an enjoyable way and helps them build new routines to look forward to. To learn about our premier in-home care plans and how they can help your loved one, give us a call at (916) 226-3737 today.