Music therapy is a purposeful and target oriented activity in which therapists work with people or groups, utilizing musical expressions, feelings, memories and the sensation that it evokes. Music has been found to be beneficial especially for older adults with different types of dementia. Moreover, the diversity in the music industry gives rise to various opportunities as different people are appealed by different songs. For older adults, old wartime songs seem to bring many lively memories to their minds. This means that music has a close relationship with unconscious emotions that are activated by musical movements. To some people, music represents a microcosms that has close relationships with them. Sometimes these feelings are so strong to the extent that they are meaningful even if the patients cannot remember who they are. In Canada, it is estimated that around 65% of practicing music therapists work with the cognitively impaired patients with dementia. A study conducted by Fick et al., (530) shows that in a review of special care units, the staff members noted music therapy was the best intervention for patients with dementia. This shows that music has a significant role in the treatment of patients with dementia.
Music can act as a channel or means of communication to those individuals where the function of language has been lost to them or challenging. Language seems to be a relatively new function of the brain in recent human history, whereas music is pan cultural and is pre-verbal. Music acts as a non-verbal and sometimes pre-verbal function of the brain thereby predating the ability for language. Moreover, as opposed to the language being processed by one part of the brain, music is processed by different parts of the brain. Most of the elements of music such as melody, pitch, and rhythm are processed in different parts. Moreover, most human emotions are also tied in music. This process then activates the limbic system. People often listen to music with their muscles. Once an individual listens to music, there is an arousal in the brain stem that then activates dynamic registers in the basal ganglia of the brain. From this inference, music sis received and processed at the brain stem level. This depicts how music or sound is basic and primeval to humans.
For dementia patients, music tends to evoke emotions. Emotions sometimes bring memory with it. As a result, this process brings back the feeling of life when everything else that has been used cannot. This means that by pairing music with the everyday activities of patients with dementia, there is a high chance that they develop rhythms that can assist them to recall the memory that they create in that activity. Over time, this process improves their cognitive ability. The ability to share emotions is often lost to patients with dementia in the later stages. As long as the patients are ambulatory, it is only through music that they can dance. In the process of dancing, there is a high chance that the patient's movements can lead to hugs, touching and kissing which ultimately brings memories and security.
Studies conducted by Gerdner, Linda and Melen(34), depict that seniors with dementia who learn to play new instruments in their advanced years often see an increase in their mood stability, dexterity and cognitive function. There are various reasons as to why the use of classical music sis beneficial to individuals with dementia.in order to access the thoughts that are associated with the past, memory requires cognition. Rhythmic beats as a result of music that constantly repeats becomes ingrained in an individuals rain and mind and thus is accessible even in the later stages of dementia development. Music has been depicted to ease the ability of some individuals to recall their memory while at the same time offering a link for dementia patients to connect with others thereby improving mental stimulation. Some of the other benefits of music therapy for dementia patients may include the improvement of focus, mood stability, sight and dexterity. Moreover, music therapy can also lead to emotional wellness and the deep connection between music and the limbic system (the area of the brain that is responsible for emotions). When an individual learns to play music, they are in a position to increase movement and balance (McDermott, Orii, Martin Orrell, and Hanne Mette Ridder, 710).
It is imperative to comprehend that in terms of application, music therapy can also play a vital role as a preventive ensure for memory loss. While music is known as a treatments method to dementia, the other function that music plays is that its assist in the delaying the progression of dementia. Often than not, music therapy has been utilized by doctors in Canada to ease the patients in keeping balance with their emotions. This is because music is known to trigger memories of the past while at the same time shaving an ability to make memories sin the present.
By offerings a soothing positive effect on individuals with dementia, music also focuses do the strengths of an individual. This also means that music has a way of looking beyond the disease that one is suffering from. Disengagement or social withdrawal are two key components that can be seen as behavioral changes that occur in individuals with dementia, the concept of incorporating music in their treatment and prevention enables the individuals with dementia to open up and connect with the society. Patients with dementia often use music as an outlet of their emotions especially if they are difficulties with language and speech. Music thus acts as a medium of communication. Since there is a decline in the functioning capacity of organs sin individuals with dementia that causes them to be confused or have trouble comprehending the world around them, by using music of defend genres can assist in stimulating their senses. One should also note that the different forms of music that music therapists in Canada use tend to waken different memories of patents with dementia. This then leads them to reminiscence or go back in time and relive the good moments that they had in their good moments. Moreover, music can act as a pleasant distraction and can is considered to be a huge game changing factor in managing certain behaviors such as agitation, pacing and aggression (Hsu, Ming Hung, 120).
In order to be successful, music therapists in Canada have to ensure that the music that they play to their patients is familiar. This is because familiar music often evoke a positive response. When one clearly knows show something works, there is a form of calmness and familiarity with the music that one has already gotten used to. For music that is known, there is a high degree that the music is predictable, familiar, and thus reassuring. Music that is unfamiliar may be less successful as its requires the use of the brain in processing and analyzing. When one listens to new music, the brain is often engaged in the analysis the instrumentation, melody, judging the overall quality and interspersing the words. Patients with domestic often do not have such skills.
In conclusion, music therapy is a purposeful and target oriented activity in which therapists work with people or groups, utilizing musical expressions, feelings, memories and the sensation that it evokes. Music has been found to be beneficial especially for older adults with different types of dementia. Music can act as a channel or means of communication to those individuals where the function of language has been lost to them or challenging. Language seems to be a relatively new function of the brain in recent human history, whereas music is pan cultural and is pre-verbal. While music is known as a treatments method to dementia, the other function that music plays is that its assist in the delaying the progression of dementia. Patients with dementia often use music as an outlet of their emotions especially if they are difficulties with language and speech. Music thus acts as a medium of communication. Since there is a decline in the functioning capacity of organs sin individuals with dementia that causes them to be confused or have trouble comprehending the world around them, by using music of different genres can assist in stimulating their senses.
Works cited
Fick, Donna Marie, et al. "FACILITATING PERSON-CENTERED CARE FOR THE PREVENTION OF DELIRIUM IN HOSPITALIZED PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA." Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association 10.4 (2014): P530-P531.
Gerdner, Linda A., and Melen R. McBride. "Individualized music intervention for agitation in dementia care and disaster preparedness." Journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine 1.5 (2015): 1-4.
Hsu, Ming Hung. "Caregivers Dual Role in Music Therapy to Manage Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Dementia." Collaboration and Assistance in Music Therapy Practice: Roles, Relationships, Challenges (2016): 120.
McDermott, Orii, Martin Orrell, and Hanne Mette Ridder. "The importance of music for people with dementia: the perspectives of people with dementia, family carers, staff and music therapists." Aging & Mental Health 18.6 (2014): 706-716.
Satoh, Masayuki, et al. "The effects of physical exercise with music on cognitive function of elderly people: Mihama-Kiho project." PloS one 9.4 (2014): e95230.
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