Music Helps Those Who Live In Care

As Alzheimer's disease continues to affect increasing amounts of people every year, it’s more important now to fight it when and where possible. Healthcare services continue to help those who live in care everyday through various methods, one of which includes music therapy. Music therapy is a relatively new way of helping people who are in dementia care to cope with life. In some cases, people who suffer with Alzheimer’s can be anxious easily, which is where music therapy can help.

Keeping the above in mind, some healthcare services have campaigned for years for music therapy sessions, with more opting for such specialist care. Due to this, there have been several reports suggesting such therapy is highly effective in alleviating some anxiousness for people who receive dementia care. One patient immediately afterwards showed an entirely different persona than previously to the music session. Additionally, the sessions have helped people who suffer with Alzheimer’s engage more with their surroundings, along with what’s going on.

Thankfully, if there aren’t any clinical music therapy sessions near you, there are other ways dementia sufferers who live in care can benefit. Things like specialist mobile apps, choirs and other local music events can really support Alzheimer sufferers cope better daily. There are numerous reasons why music helps dementia sufferer’s quality of life. Not only does it support mental health, but physical too. When listening to music, it activates different areas of the brain, which helps people who have Alzheimer’s disease better communicate. Because of this, they can then interact more easily with other people, helping to lessen social isolation as well as keep them active through dancing.

Furthermore, having music to return to throughout the week, has proven to have positive effects on speech and language retention in dementia sufferers. The study from International Longevity Centre UK, conducted over a year, found a great minimisation of depression and anxiety symptoms, like anger, in those who receive music therapy in dementia care. Since such studies have been published, the NHS as part of their long term plan, are aiming to widen ‘social prescribing’.

Social prescribing is the prescription of music and the arts, by specially trained social prescribing link workers, whom connect patients to local groups and services. This approach is planned to increase by April 2024, aiming for over 900,000 people with referrals. Moreover, for people who live in care having a social prescription, rather than pharmaceutical medication, reduces agitation in the Alzheimer’s sufferer, as well as within their family.

Unfortunately, music prescription therapy sessions are more costly, around £30 more, than when patients visit their GP. So, due to this, it is doubtful all care homes will make this service available to patients. However, if there is more backing from the public, social prescribing will have a better chance of becoming readily available within healthcare services. Until such services are further widespread, it’s vital to take advantage of the already available galleries, theatres and museums and visit them with Alzheimer sufferers. This way, the people with dementia will lead a more enjoyable and less stressful life.