29/07/2026
Benefits of Music Therapy in Dementia
Music can remain meaningful even when memory, language, and communication abilities have changed. Familiar songs may help a person living with dementia feel calmer, more connected, and more emotionally present.
How Music May Help
Music can:
• Reduce anxiety and agitation: Gentle, familiar music may create a soothing environment and help reduce restlessness or distress.
• Encourage memories: Songs connected to childhood, family life, faith, culture, or important events may awaken older memories and support reminiscence.
• Improve mood: Singing or listening to enjoyable music may bring pleasure, comfort, and emotional expression.
• Support communication: A person who struggles to speak may still sing, hum, clap, move, or respond through facial expressions.
• Strengthen connection: Sharing music can create meaningful moments between the person, caregivers, and family members, even when conversation is difficult.
• Encourage movement: Clapping, tapping, swaying, or dancing can support gentle physical activity and participation.
• Provide comfort in advanced dementia: Soft music may remain soothing when verbal communication has become very limited.
Using Music Safely and Meaningfully
Choose songs the person has enjoyed throughout their life. Keep the volume comfortable and reduce other background noise. Observe their reaction carefully. Smiling, singing, relaxed breathing, or gentle movement may show enjoyment, while covering the ears, grimacing, agitation, or trying to leave may mean the music should be changed or stopped.
Music should be centred on the person’s preferences, culture, memories, and present mood. A cheerful song may encourage activity, while slow and gentle music may help during rest or personal care.
Formal music therapy is provided by a trained music therapist, but families and caregivers can also use familiar music during everyday moments. Current research suggests that music-based interventions may help some emotional and behavioural symptoms, although the strength of evidence varies and benefits are not the same for every person.
Music may not restore lost memories, but it can open a door to comfort, identity, expression, and connection.
Sometimes, when words become difficult, music continues the conversation.
