How Music Enhances Seniors’ Quality of Life
Music is a wonderful medium and tool with the power to connect people of different cultures, languages, and backgrounds every single day. When it comes to senior living, music can be healing and rejuvenating all at once.
With that being said, below are some key reasons why music is so powerful for seniors – and how you can use it to your benefit as well.
Music Lights Up Different Parts of Your Brain
Your brain uses different regions to process spoken language, printed text, and other sensory inputs. When you listen to music, lots of different brain regions spring to life at one time. In fact, when listening to any form of music, the part of your brain that controls emotions and feelings receives more blood flow!
Starting in infancy, humans benefit from exposure to music, so if you want a well-rounded, active brain long into your later years of life, regularly listening to music is the way to go!
Relating to Song Lyrics
Besides the health effects that music provides to the brain, listening is simply fun and soothing, too. Many people even determine their favorite songs because they relate to what the artists are describing, and that’s especially true for seniors. They might not be able to visit the people and places they once did, but music can connect them to all of the positive memories related to them.
Better Memory and Cognition
A major concern that many seniors have is keeping their brains active and healthy as they age. Memory problems and cognitive skills are at the forefront of most of these concerns, but the great news is that music has actually been shown to improve memory and cognition over time. Therefore, every time you listen to your favorite album, you’re infusing your brain with meaningful connections!
Some studies have even suggested that people in senior living with memory problems, like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, have shown improvements after music therapy, possibly because of the brain regions involved in processing rhythm and song lyrics.
Music: A Creative Outlet for Relaxation and Stress Relief
When you’re feeling blue, stressed, or other negative emotions, it can be helpful to turn on some music. People of all ages benefit from using music as a healthy distraction and coping skill.
If you face lots of stress and anxiety in your life, music can be a great way to release that tension. Creative outlets like music, art, and theater have been shown to improve the mental health of most adults.
Furthermore, research has also shown that regular music in senior living reduces blood pressure, anxiety, and sleep problems in residents, which means there’s no easier way to enhance both your mental and physical health in your golden years than by turning on your favorite tunes!
Take Care of Yourself by Starting with Music
Senior living is a wonderful, enriching place to be, and if you want to enhance your living experience, try incorporating music into your daily life.