Music and dementia

Singing along to their favourite war time tunes, and some others that started their reminiscent thoughts to return.

Music is an incredible healing and therapy tool when it comes to memory loss and dementia. With dementia, it exists by the person starting to lose their memories, short or long term, depending where dementia decides to strike first. We often forget that music, singing and anything of a musical nature is experienced differently than conversation/communicating through a verbal form.

When we sing, hear music and experience these mediums, our brain goes on a journey to find that memory, bring it back to the person, and they will often recite full songs, music and even bring out emotions they did not remember existed for them in a conversation or when verbally communicating.

This particular day, I was taking photos at the high care aged care facility, during happy hour. No this does not mean they were getting cheap shots and getting plastered. Happy hour for them, is one of the wonderful daughters of a couple in the facility, came for 2–3 hours to play some of their favourite songs on the piano.

The energy of the room was a-buzz as the group get demanding with what song they want. Looking at the music books, they remember the songs they love and the songs they don’t, and they are very vocal about it! Yet, they can’t remember who their granddaughter is. Sad, but true.

So in saying this, music and singing is such an important way for those in this time of their life, where their memory is waning, to still experience those small memories that come back and the emotions that come with it.

After happy hour, the residents are calm, focused and yes they may have had some stories to tell afterwards, as their memories came flooding back, and some sadness attached to it, or even happiness, it kept them remembering the beautiful story, that was their life.