Music. It has the power to connect us with memories of long ago. Melodies can delight us, sadden us. Music provides a sense of meaning and context. It is a soundtrack for who we are, where we’ve come from, and what we’ve done. Listening to favorite songs can evoke vivid memories and can become a kind of life review, an important and common task in our later years.
The health benefits of music are many. Music can improve sleep quality, enhance relaxation and exercise, and calm anxiety. Musical memory is notable in that it is stored differently in the brain than speech and is separate from other memory systems. That means we can access it, even when other memory systems begin to fail. If someone in your life is having memory issues, you have probably already discovered this amazing, special distinction. Even though Mom may not remember the names of her loved ones, she still remembers the lyrics to all her favorite songs. Those musical memories are not as affected by dementia. Images of the brain done by MRI and PET scan show that the Music Memory Area (MMA) is it partly independent from other memory systems. It shows minimal atrophy/shrinkage and minimal disruption of metabolism in Alzheimer’s patients even though it is has about the same level of amyloid deposition as other areas of the Alzheimer’s brain.
This week, Arcy Nurse Practitioner Karen Pearson shared these insights with The Senior Care Networking Group. She encouraged listeners to create personalized playlists for themselves now, by reflecting on the pivotal times in life and identifying significant songs. She encouraged those who care for others with memory issues to find music that resonates with their loved one in a personal way. Playing these personal favorites can have a beneficial outcome. “While those with dementia have been robbed of their ability to communicate, they still possess the ability to feel and connect. They may not remember what is said or what music was played, but they will be left with feelings of joy and comfort and love,” observes Karen.
Music is a simple way to connect with those who are having difficulty with language. If someone in your life has Alzheimer’s Disease or another type of dementia, it can be an important part of the care plan. Music, especially personalized choices of songs, may even help reduce agitation and anxiety, increase lucidity, and enable your loved one to communicate with you more clearly for a short period.
For more information and other ideas of how to care for your loved one, please call us at 469-293-1515.
My name is Jimmie Stapleton. I am the founder and CEO of Arcy Healthcare. Arcy Healthcare includes Arcy Hospice, Arcy Supportive Care, MaximaCare Home Health and Arcy at Home.
Arcy Hospice was opened in 2007 to provide care and support for individuals and families facing a life limiting illness. It was established after my wife Ellen, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, had completed her chemo and radiation therapies. At that time, things were looking positive, and we wanted to do something for our community that had been so supportive of our family during her treatments. Unfortunately, the cancer returned a few years later, and she subsequently passed away under our care in 2010.
In the years that followed, I began to see the need to provide the same level of excellent care to patients across the continuum of care. Therefore, we have added a home health division (MaximaCare Home Health), a palliative care division (Arcy Supportive Care), and a home care division, (Arcy at Home). With the addition of these divisions, we can meet most of the post-acute care needs for you and your family in your home.
I started Arcy Hospice with my wife as my motivation to provide exceptional care and support in the patient’s home, where they are surrounded by family and where they feel most comfortable. I’m proud to say that our staff provides some of the best in home care in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
Please let us know if we can enrich the quality of life for you or a loved one.
Sincerely,
Jimmie Stapleton – Founder and CEO
Arcy Healthcare
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