There are many cognitive, physical and emotional challenges that come with age. One of the things that can improve the quality of life of seniors is music therapy and we will look into this further in the article below.
Music therapy has a positive impact on cognitive function in older individuals.
By engaging in music, their brain activity is stimulated. This will lead to improvements in attention, memory and executive functions. You can look into aged care music therapy Adelaide to better learn how music affects our body and mind. Many individuals that are suffering from conditions like Alzheimer’s disease have found it easier to recall past memories with music therapy. Emotional responses can be triggered by familiar songs or melodies and this will help with cognitive recall. The seniors will be able to communicate and engage with others through music therapy. There are so many emotional benefits of music therapy. It can help evoke different emotions. Music can give you joy. Older adults can often grapple with feelings of anxiety, loneliness and depression but they will be able to find a therapeutic outlet with music therapy. They can listen to music or play instruments so that their feelings of isolation can be reduced.
Physical health can also be improved with music therapy.
Motor coordination and mobility can be improved due to the rhythmic nature of music. Individuals that have mobility issues or physical impairments can engage in musical activities like dancing or drumming. This will help with physical exercise and gradually they can improve their motor skills as well. Music can give them a distraction and this will help in pain management. It is a great way to alleviate discomfort so that quality of life can be improved. When we age, sometimes our interactions with the society can start to lessen and this will affect our mental and emotional health. But with music therapy, you can find opportunities enabling group participation. This will promote a sense of community and connection with others. There are group music sessions that you can take part in. For example, there are drumming circles and sing-alongs so that you can interact with others and improve collaboration.
Creativity is also stimulated by music.
The seniors will be able to express themselves in a creative way through improvisation, playing instruments or writing songs. This will improve cognitive flexibility along with problem solving. It can also contribute to feeling a sense of accomplishment. Some seniors tend to have impairments with their speech and language. With rhythmic exercises and singing, they will be able to strengthen their vocal muscles. It is a great way to improve articulation as well. You will have an alternate way to communicate with others through music and it is a great way to express your needs, emotions and thoughts. Sometimes verbal communication can be frustrating and you will not be able to express exactly what you are feeling or thinking. But music can make this more accessible and it will give you an emotional outlet.
