Music: A Powerful Tool for Caregivers

A ‘NOTE’ ABOUT MUSIC: A POWERFUL TOOL FOR CAREGIVERS

Submitted by Patricia Avery, CRC Program Coordinator

It’s long been said that music soothes the soul. In the last few decades, studies have found that music as a therapeutic tool can increase cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients, help premature infants gain weight, encourage autistic children to communicate, lead stroke patients to regain speech and mobility, control pain, and manage anxiety and depression. Given the positive benefits of music, it is no surprise that music can be beneficial in any caregiving plan and should be considered an essential tool. We all know that exercise is essential for good health. In the same manner, music provides cognitive exercise for our brains. When it comes to Alzheimer’s patients, studies have shown that music reduces agitation. If you’d like to use music to help a loved one who you are providing care for, consider these tips: (GraffRadford, 2021)

• Think about your loved one’s preferences. What kind of music do they enjoy? What music evokes memories of happy times? Ask family and friends for suggestions. • Set the mood. To calm your loved one during mealtime or a morning hygiene routine, play music or sing a song that’s soothing. When you’d like to boost your loved one’s mood, use more upbeat music. • Avoid overstimulation. When playing music, eliminate competing noises. Turn off the TV. Shut the door. Set the volume based on your loved one’s hearing ability. Choose music that isn’t interrupted by commercials, which can cause confusion. • Encourage movement. Help your loved one to clap along or tap their feet to the beat. • Sing along. Singing along with your loved one can boost mood and enhance your relationship. Singing can help stimulate unique memories as musical memory differs from other types of memory. • Pay attention to your loved one’s response. If your loved one seems to enjoy favorite songs, play them often. If your loved one reacts negatively to a particular song or type of music, choose something else As a caregiver music is your therapy as well. We know that increased stress, sleep loss, irritability, and depression can go hand in hand with caregiving. Too much to do, and often no time to do it. Studies show that listening to music can lead to lower aggression, reduce depression and enhance sleep. Music can lead to increased secretion levels of melatonin, a hormone associated with mood regulation. Create your own playlist to lift your mood when you have a “down day”. Turn on your music for a wind down at the end of the day, or to help get you off to a great start in the morning. Overwhelmed and exhausted by 3:00? Take 5 minutes and listen to your go-to song for relaxation, along with a cup of tea. And breathe! Locally, Sullivan County Action Toward Independence has an experienced Music Therapist offering Music therapy for individuals and caregivers. Reach out to Melinda Burgard, MA at ATI (845) 794-4228 for information. In conclusion, be creative and find what works for you. To quote Aretha Franklin, (Music) “It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting. It’s encouraging, it’s strengthening”.

Sources: Snelling, S. (2012). Caregivers take note – music as therapy. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. Retrieved January 31, 2022, from https://www.alz.org/blog/ alz/february_2012/caregivers_take_ note_%E2%80%93_music_as_therapy Graff-Radford, J. (2021, April 6). How music can help people with Alzheimer’s. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved January 31, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/ diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/ expert-answers/music-and-alzheimers/ faq-20058173