When seniors with Alzheimer’s hear music they like, chemicals are released in the pleasure centers of their brains, making them feel good. You can incorporate music into your aging loved one’s daily life and possibly boost his or her memory, attention span, appetite, and mood. Here are some of the ways family caregivers can use music when caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
Listen to Music Together
Music can help seniors feel close to others, both emotionally and physically. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, it may be more challenging for your loved one to share his or her emotions. However, listening to music and singing may motivate your loved one to dance, which could lead to physical interactions such as hugging and holding hands. This physical closeness could stimulate memories. You can also make a playlist your loved one would like and download it to his or her smartphone or music player. Your loved one can then listen to the music whenever he or she wants.
Listening to music is a wonderful way to boost memory, and a wide array of lifestyle choices can provide seniors with similar benefits. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of at-home care. Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Read Lyrics Together
Seniors living with Alzheimer’s may still enjoy reading. Print out the words to your loved one’s favorite songs and help him or her read the lyrics. Reading can reduce agitation in seniors with Alzheimer’s and prevent other types of challenging behavior, and it’s a fun way to incorporate music when you want to spark activity in your loved one’s brain.
Watch Music Videos
Download music videos on your loved one’s smartphone, or bring the videos up on the television via a music app. Watching music videos may stimulate positive interactions. Musical aptitude is one of the last remaining abilities most seniors with Alzheimer’s have. Therefore, watching videos is a great way to spark your loved one’s memory and thoughts. Reaching your loved one’s true feelings can make caregiving easier for you.
Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Edmonton Home Care Assistance provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method was designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives.
Play Background Music while Cleaning the Home
It’s important for seniors with Alzheimer’s to continue doing activities they did prior to being diagnosed with the disease. As the disease progresses, your loved one’s level of interest or involvement may decrease, but maintaining hobbies and favorite pastimes might help. If your loved one takes pleasure in organizing and cleaning the home, play background music while he or she does these household chores. The tunes may help him or her manage stress-induced agitation and coordinate his or her motor movements.
Regular music therapy may boost memory, and there are many other things your loved one can do to remain healthy. In Edmonton, senior home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy. If you need professional home care for your loved one, reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (780) 490-7337.