Singing songs, listening to music, and playing instruments can have positive effects on mental, physical, and emotional health and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. The sounds are often therapeutic and provide brain stimulation. Continue reading to learn about the advantages of music for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease.
Triggers Memories
Music memory goes relatively undamaged at every stage of Alzheimer’s disease, which is why you need to promote this activity when caring for your elderly loved one. While listening to songs, your loved one can connect the words and sounds with past events. Music can often elicit emotions and memories when no other activity can. To receive the most cognitive benefits, pair music with as many weekly activities as possible.
For reliable Alzheimer’s care, Lincoln families can turn to Home Care Assistance. We are a leading provider of professional memory care designed to help seniors maintain a higher quality of life. In addition to Alzheimer’s care, we also provide comprehensive dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke care. From revolutionary care programs to compassionate and dedicated caregivers, we can meet all of your Alzheimer’s care needs.
Stimulates the Brain
Singing engages various regions of the brain, not just the area related to music memory. If your parent is listening to music or singing along to a favorite song, the stimulation can activate the visual areas of his or her brain. The right and left sides of the brain work together, helping seniors figure out what they see, how they should react, and what feelings they experience. For example, if your loved one falls and scratches his or her arm, the occipital lobe perceives an image of the scratch, and the parietal lobe uses the image to interpret how your loved one reacts to the injury. The stimulation from music exercises these areas of the brain and keeps your loved one visually and mentally alert.
Professional caregivers with training and experience in cognitive stimulation can be a wonderful resource for seniors with Alzheimer’s. 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 elderly home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Increases Attention Span
It’s typical for aging adults with Alzheimer’s to get confused or easily distracted. The disease disrupts thought processes and negatively affects the ability to concentrate. As a result, they may have difficulty completing tasks, causing them to withdraw from activities. Listening to music can increase focus and productivity. When your loved one is playing songs, remove background distractions, such as the television. Your loved one could also wear headphones to drown out background noises, but keep the volume at a modest level.
Reduces Stress
Stress can make symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s worse and speed up the rate of cognitive decline. When your loved one is unable to control anxiety, his or her body will secrete higher levels of stress hormones such as cortisol into the bloodstream, interfering with the brain’s ability to encode memory and retrieve information. However, music can lower stress, which in turn preserves many cognitive skills and increases independence. Playing music can also shift your loved one’s mood and alleviate feelings of aggression. Whenever you notice your loved one having a stress-induced outburst, whether verbal or physical, play music to calm him or her down and stimulate a positive response.
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 Lincoln 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. If your loved one needs help with the challenges of aging, call one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (916) 226-3737.