Singing with elders who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease one can make a meaningful contact.

Music therapy can be provided in a formal manner by a person trained in music therapy and it can also be provided by volunteers who are well versed in music in an informal way.

People with dementia suffer from aphasia and amnesia. Verbal communication becomes very difficult and confusing. When a person loses memory, he does not know his own identity and the reality around him becomes strange. Singing together is a way of communicating. Singing is a source of stimulation and interaction and reduces agitation and gets the person involved in an activity and involvement with other human beings.

In the music therapy, singing familiar songs are chosen as a non-verbal form of expression. It will provide an opportunity to interact with another person. The benefits of music therapy in elderly are given below.

• It can reduce social withdrawal and isolation
• It can reduce anxious and aggressive behaviors.
• It can ease feelings of pain, depression or boredom
• It can improve self-esteem
• It can facilitate self expression
• It can help in maintaining mental abilities
• It can maintain physical functioning

Elderly person can participate in the therapy through following ways:

• They can request for a favorite song
• Listen to music
• Participate in singing
• Play instruments
• Dance to music
• Write a song
• Perform in a band
• Discuss feelings with a therapist

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