Tips to Use Music in Alzheimer’s Care

By 9  am on

How to Incorporate Music in Alzheimer's Care in Tampa Bay, FL

Listening to music helps seniors with cognitive impairment connect with family and friends and memories from their past. Family caregivers should look for creative ways to incorporate music into their loved one’s daily life to minimize difficult behaviors and increase communication. Here are some of the ways to use music when caring for a senior loved one with Alzheimer’s. 

Play Name That Tune

This activity may stimulate your loved one’s mind and enhance his or her brain function.  Make the activity thought-provoking, but refrain from making the guessing game too challenging or stressful. Start off by choosing some of your loved one’s favorite songs. When your loved one listens to the music and tries to name the specific tune, he or she can develop a strategy to recall a memory associated with that song. Over time, a musical activity like this could increase his or her cognitive abilities. 

Cognitive impairment is one of the many health conditions that can make it difficult for seniors to manage everyday activities. If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a Clearwater Home Care you can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services.

Play Musical Instruments 

Playing instruments is the perfect way to soothe seniors with Alzheimer’s and help them manage agitation. Use drums or percussion instruments that can be tapped or shaken. However, if your loved one doesn’t want to play the instruments, you can play them while he or she claps and moves to the sound of the music. This musical activity may calm his or her mind, especially during periods of sundowning. 

If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated home care agency. Safety Harbor Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. From the mentally stimulating activities in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method to our friendly Care Managers who are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, we offer a wide array of high-quality at-home care services.

Watch Concerts at Home

Being around large crowds can make seniors with Alzheimer’s confused, agitated, and overwhelmed. However, this doesn’t mean your loved one has to give up concerts completely. There are many concerts filmed for television that you and your loved one can watch together. You can also download old concerts of your loved one’s favorite artists. Listening to the music and watching the concerts via television or a web-enabled device can evoke emotions. Those emotions can trigger memories and bring back excitement and positive feelings for adults living with Alzheimer’s disease. 

Create a Musical Masterpiece 

While your loved one is coloring, play music in the background and allow the music to lead his or her creativity while drawing. You can take this activity a bit further by inviting other family members or friends to join in. When creating the musical masterpiece, play the music for a little while, then turn it off. Each time the music stops, everyone shifts seats and begins to work on the drawing that is now in front of them. Continue to play the music and switch chairs until everyone is back in front of their original drawing. Engaging in creative activities allows your loved one to express him or herself, boost his or her social interaction, and increase his or her physical movement, three actions that have a positive impact on brain function and overall mood.

The days, weeks, and months following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be challenging for both seniors and their families. However, these challenges can be made less stressful with the help of caregivers trained in professional Alzheimer’s care. Safety Harbor, Florida, Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one enjoy the golden years while simultaneously managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your elderly loved one, call one of our professional Care Managers at (727) 330-7862 today.

Request Free Information or
Schedule a Free in-Home Consultation