The Challenge
Raising awareness and accessibility to music care
Awareness
Lack of understanding about how music can support health and wellbeing and the role it plays in good health and social care
Training
All family carers, health and social care practitioners, and musicians, should have access to training in order to make music a part of care
Investment
Organisations that provide music care need to be supported so that everyone who could benefit is able to access musical services as part of their care and benefit from this low-cost and effective health intervention
The Benefits
Music can have a significant impact on people living with dementia
People Living with dementia
- Improved quality of life
- Management of the symptoms of dementia
- Relationships are supported and maintained leading to a reduction in social isolation and loneliness
- People living with dementia are able to reconnect with their sense of self and are seen for who they are, beyond their diagnosis
Families and Carers
- Relationships are supported and maintained through musical moments of joy
- Eases the burden of caring for someone as everyday tasks are made more manageable and enjoyable
- Enables a more creative and holistic approach to care
Performers and Musicians
- Enhances and enriches performance skills
- Provides another way of using musical skills and opportunity to share them with others
- Make an immeasurable difference to the lives of those living with dementia
- Create a wider impact in the local community through providing positive social experiences and opportunities for creative engagement
Communities and Society
- Create more inclusive, dementia-friendly communities
- Improve the wellbeing of those living with dementia
- Support and nurture carers and families
The Science
Research and evidence for music-based interventions
Personalised Music is Key
While music in general has many benefits to people living with dementia, music that holds meaning to a person is especially powerful as it can trigger memories and supports brain health and functioning
Listening to favourite music improves brain function in Alzheimer’s patients
Research carried out by the team at University of Toronto and Unity Health Toronto explored what happened when participants with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease listened to a curated playlist of autobiographically relevant, familiar music for one hour a day over the course of three weeks. Findings showed an improvement in memory performance, supporting the potential for personalised musical interventions for people with dementia
Personalised music for residents with dementia in an Australian rural aged-care setting
An Australian study showed that personalised music positively influenced residents’ behaviour and well-being; social interaction; and the workplace environment and culture. They found that a personalised music program is an effective, low-cost intervention to improve quality of life care of residents living with dementia and boost staff well-being, in low-resourced or rural aged-care settings
Music therapy reduces agitation and the need for medication
Music therapy has been proven to reduce agitation and the need for anti-psychotic medication for those with dementia
The Arts for Health & Wellbeing Report: Music therapy as an effective intervention for managing dementia
Research quoted in the ‘All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing Inquiry Report Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing’, highlighted music therapy as an effective intervention for managing dementia
Individualized Music Program is Associated with Improved Outcomes for U.S. Nursing Home Residents with Dementia
Researchers in America found that personalised playlists used as part of the ‘Music and Memory’ programme reduced the need for antipsychotic medication and in managing some of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
Music therapy enhances quality of care
The benefits of music therapy extend beyond the person living with dementia
Individual music therapy for managing neuropsychiatric symptoms for people with dementia and their carers
Researchers found that carers participating in weekly music therapy sessions thought that the therapy helped in managing symptoms and improved wellbeing. The quality of care from care givers improved as a result of the therapy programme due to enhanced communication between care staff and residents
Power of Music 2022 Report: Music as an integral part of health and social care
The power of music to support health and wellbeing is well documented with a report published last year by UK Music and Music for Dementia calling for music to be an integral part of health and social care. The report outlines a series of ambitious but achievable recommendations which can be quickly implemented to deliver positive change
Here's what experts say
"Music in and of itself is incredibly beneficial. You realise life can be lived well with dementia when you see people having a great time singing"
Helen, Dementia Choir, Lead
"People come together in our singing groups, make friends and really enjoy it. Doing music together strengthens their relationships"
Lucy, Arts & Health Charity, Director
"Music helps both carers and people living with dementia in so many ways - wellbeing and resilience, recharging your battery, rehumanising, and reconnecting"
Sue, Dementia Carers Charity, Head of Services
Read more about dementia
Symptoms
Learn more about the symptoms of dementia
Types
Learn more about different types of dementia
Stages
Learn more about the signs and stages of dementia
Caring
Learn about support available for carers
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