Why Music Matters In Senior Settings
Recently, at one of the Memory Care communities where I do music programs, I set up my camera to get a video of me singing. The camera was placed facing only me, in order to maintain privacy for the residents. I knew some of the residents were singing along as they usually do, but when I got home and played the video, all I could hear on the audio was one of the women, who was singing so loudly on most all the songs I could not hear my own voice at all! This woman is advanced stage, unable to control many of her body movements, non-verbal. She does not speak any words. She is generally agitated. Much of her singing didn’t include ‘lyrics’, just melodies, but much of the time she was singing accurate lyrics too!
My ‘promo video’ of my program was unusable, but the rewards of knowing I am bringing even a brief moment of joy connecting with the life of an often “silenced” beautiful human being are immeasurable.
How does the brain/memory hold music?
There are two types of long-term memory: explicit and implicit. The explicit memory is impacted when dementia is present. It involves conscious retrieval of events, facts, current/recent life experience and verbal interactions. Implicit memory involves the unconscious and automatic memories. Things like riding a bike, learning a musical instrument or even the ‘mechanics’ of driving. The latter is why when working with individuals who ‘can’ no longer drive safely, they do not understand the concept that they ‘can’t’ drive. Why? They usually CAN drive!….Since it involves their implicit memory, they can very often start the car, steer, use the gas pedal. Other issues such as slow reaction times, getting lost and impaired judgement become the larger factors.
“Explicit memory fades in the absence of recall, while implicit memory is more enduring and may last a lifetime even in the absence of further practice. The explicit memory systems become damaged by conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.” (Psychology Today, Why Does Music Evoke Memories?).
Since music is largely an implicit memory, it can be a critical factor and important tool in keeping communication alive and in encouraging, even if temporary, ‘awakened’ states in those suffering from dementia. Music is one of the few ways to penetrate the brain when these conditions exist. Even with profound memory loss and loss of knowledge about who loved ones are or being out of touch with who they themselves are, individuals with dementia often show a remarkable memory for music.
Because of this, it’s important to include music listening and activities allowing music participation into patient care routines and in their schedule. When we unlock musical memories, we can, at times also unlock non-musical memories and promote communication in older adults with dementia related disease. It’s also VERY important for independent living and assisted living communities and seniors who are not experiencing dementia symptoms
Music can help reduce anxiety and depression, help maintain speech and language, is helpful at the end of life, enhances quality of life. (NHS England, Music and Dementia: A Powerful Connector)
In my work, in addition to singing, I often hear even some of the most advanced stage non-verbal or limited physical movement individuals ‘mouth’ the words’, tear up with emotions evoked, dance on their feet or ‘dance’ while sitting, play an instrument or wave a scarf, make eye contact with me during songs and, most importantly, SMILE.
"There is fear when frowning. There is love when smiling." —Maxime Lagacé
“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” – William Arthur Ward
¨If you smile when you are alone, then you really mean it.¨ - Andy Rooney
photo credit: Connor J Burnett, The Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA
