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Five ways to use music in dementia care
There’s no cure for dementia, but using meaningful music in dementia care can be an effective non-pharmacological intervention.
We asked Mary McDougall, who delivers our training courses for health and social care professionals, to share five ways music can be used in dementia care.
1. To start a conversation.
Music is a wonderful way to start a conversation. Even if a person doesn’t consider themselves to be “musical,” there’s a good chance that music has had an impact on them at some point in their life. Try asking someone about a song that reminds them of their first concert or a special time in their life. Some people may be able to recall these memories more easily than others. Our Conversation Starter resource can be a helpful tool for finding music that resonates with someone living with dementia.
2. To help with difficult tasks.
Playing a familiar song for somebody living with dementia can help them feel relaxed, making it a useful tool when supporting a person with challenging tasks like personal care or attending an appointment. Kirsty Cartin, a care home manager, used music during personal care for a lady who often felt threatened during these activities because her dementia could cause anxiety. Kirsty described the music as a welcome and comforting distraction, which continued to soothe the lady even as they assisted her to breakfast.
3. To reduce social isolation and keep families and loved ones connected.
Music is universal and can help people connect with one another. Tracey Carter, Head of Dementia and Care at Hallmark Luxury Care Homes, supported a person who was very withdrawn, sitting apart from others, and who would become very distressed if approached. Staff found it challenging to offer support, and her family became upset and distressed during visits. From a distance, Tracey tried singing what she thought might be familiar songs. When she sang “Daisy,” the lady looked up and began to join in. Staff then found a cassette of songs from the same era, which helped give the lady a sense of belonging and security, making family visits calmer and less distressing for everyone.
4. To reduce distressing symptoms and the need for medication.
Meaningful music can help reduce some of the condition’s distressing symptoms, such as agitation and anxiety. A community mental health team in Fife integrated a personal playlist into the care of a person who had become disoriented, unsettled, and agitated. Previously, this person had been receiving medication daily, and their carer and partner were under considerable stress. Listening to meaningful songs helped them become more alert and engaged, even initiating communication with their carer and partner for the first time in a long while. The playlist was used strategically to comfort them during times of confusion and unrest, resulting in a 100% reduction in medication use.
5. To strengthen workplace relationships and connections with families and loved ones.
Health and social care workers who have completed training report that using meaningful music in dementia care has led to happier staff and residents and has strengthened relationships between staff and family members. Someone who attended our Playlist for Professionals training plays music in hospitals. The Sister at one of wards she worked in told her “I can always tell when you have been here, the atmosphere is always completely different”.
I engage with many health and social care professionals in my role at Playlist for Life and know just how hard everyone works, and the pressures that can arise at work. Meaningful music is a very simple, accessible tool that benefits not just the person living dementia, but care staff and families too.
If you’d like to find out more about using Playlist for Life in your role, check out our dedicated training website.
