A recent review published in Nature describes the transformative potential of music therapy in institutional settings like nursing homes and hospitals. The article does an excellent job describing what makes music therapy such a game-changer for individuals with dementia, their families, and the staff who care for them.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is a clinical profession that involves interactive and receptive musical experiences led by trained, board-certified therapists. Music therapists provide carefully tailored musical experiences that address individual needs. Perhaps most importantly, the therapist adapts each interaction in the moment to meet the emotional, physical, and social goals of participants.
For people with dementia and other types of memory loss, music therapy can reduce feelings of distress and agitation, improve mood, and even evoke cherished memories. It’s an approach that focuses on what a person can do, rather than what they’ve lost. This is the magic of music therapy—it is a powerful, research-backed process that taps into our natural connection to music in order to bring comfort and joy.
How Does It Work?
Research highlights several ways music therapy benefits those with dementia:
Meeting Emotional Needs: Music can help access and express emotions that may be difficult to communicate verbally. Familiar tunes from a person’s younger years can evoke positive memories and strengthen their sense of identity. Musical memories are often still accessible even by people with significant memory loss, due to the way our brain stores and processes music. For example, a person with Alzheimer's disease may respond joyfully to a song from their wedding by smiling, tapping their feet, or even singing along, even while they struggle to recall other aspects of their life.
Regulating Stress and Agitation: A skilled music therapist uses rhythms, melodies, and harmonies in the moment to help people regulate their emotions and reduce anxiety and agitation. One effective approach involves matching live music to someone's heightened emotional state and then gradually transitioning to slower, softer music. This can help guide someone from a place of agitation towards relaxation and calmness. This method both acknowledges feelings and provides a structured pathway for emotional regulation.
Encouraging Social Connections: Group music therapy sessions provide a sense of community, while family sessions offer more personalized care for those needing social connection in a smaller setting. These opportunities create an environment where people can bond over music, interact through musical expression, and support one another.
Why Include Families and Staff?
One of the most intriguing aspects of music therapy is its ability to impact not only the person with dementia but also their caregivers. When families and staff participate in sessions, it fosters deeper understanding and strengthens relationships. Caregivers report feeling less stress and more empowered to connect with their loved ones or residents in meaningful ways.
Consultations with a certified music therapist can empower staff and family to incorporate music into daily care routines, leading to calmer environments and fewer behavioral challenges.
What’s Needed for Success?
Research demonstrates that for music therapy to thrive in care settings, certain factors are essential. Passively putting background music on or having volunteer musicians perform may provide some benefits, but are not a replacement for music therapy and do not acheive the same outcomes. Crucial factors identified in the Nature research article include:
Direct music therapy interventions: Music therapy for dementia should be led by trained, board-certified therapists. Sessions should be personalized, adapted to the in-the-moment needs of clientele, and accessible to people with a variety of cognitive needs and musical backgrounds. Frequent and predictable therapy sessions help build trust and ensure lasting benefits.
Support from Organizations: Institutions must prioritize funding, providing appropriate time and space for sessions that are free from interruptions, and provide access to resources such as instruments and recorded music. "The program theory highlights the importance of support within the organization and management for music therapy to become embedded in services, including policies and systems for knowledge exchange."
Collaboration: Therapists, staff, and families should work together to integrate music into care plans and everyday activities. "Engaging in positive moments with the person with dementia in music therapy provided an intimate, humanizing experience [for families and caregivers], highlighting the individuals’ strengths. These experiences may change the perception of the person and contribute to assessments and understanding of needs communicated through behaviors of distress. They may also increase understanding of music therapy and ways to use music in everyday care."
The Article
The Nature review (read here) underscores the importance of making music therapy widely available, particularly in long-term care facilities. Its ability to reduce reliance on medication, improve care quality, and uplift both individuals and caregivers is too impactful to overlook.
Music therapy is more than an activity—it’s a lifeline that provides comfort, sparks joy, and fosters human connection. Whether you’re a caregiver, healthcare provider, or someone curious about its potential, this therapeutic approach has the power to change lives, one note at a time.
Interested in learning more about bring music therapy to your organization? Contact us here and check out these related blog posts:
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