Music can be used for more than just entertainment for people with dementia. It can also provide a useful first-line treatment for some of the key changes in behaviour that people with dementia may experience.
There are four main ways that music can provide therapeutic benefits to people with dementia:
- By reducing or increasing arousal or alertness levels
- By distracting individuals during challenging activities or times of the day
- By helping them reconnect with personal memories
- By providing mental stimulation
Some of the key changes to behaviour that music can help to manage include:
- Agitation or anxiety
- Withdrawal or apathy
- Reduced verbal or social engagement
- Agitation in care situations such as showering, dressing, or eating
- Restlessness, wandering, or falls
- Sleep disturbances
Appendix 3 can be used as a template for determining the key changes to behaviour that music might be used to help with for each person with dementia in your care, and the type of music that might be most helpful for them.
Importantly, it is recommended that several playlists be created for each person, depending on the key changes in behaviour that you have identified. For example, some people with dementia may feel withdrawn and unmotivated to get out of bed in the morning, and need music that will help them to feel energised. At other times of the day they may be agitated and anxious and need music that will help them to feel calmer. Different playlists would be used for these different situations, depending on the symptoms of the person. It can also be possible to reduce restlessness, wandering and even falls by using music at times of the day when the person often become restless. Similarly, if the person tends to become agitated during particular care routines such as showering, dressing or at mealtimes, music can provide a useful distraction at this time. Where individuals are becoming less verbal and are engaging in social interaction less frequently, music can help to reconnect them with personal memories that stimulate increased sharing with the caregiver. More details about how to select appropriate music depending on the changes in behaviour you want to address are contained in Chapter 4.
Different playlists may be needed to manage different symptoms at different times of day. Individuals should be monitored to determine the most useful ‘dosage’.
Chapter 2 summary
- Six key areas for Changes in Behaviour are listed, which music can be helpful to manage. It is recommended to have several playlists for each person living with dementia with different music depending on the specific changes to behaviour you want to address
- The score produced in the Changes in Behaviour Survey (Appendix 3) will be an indication of how many music playlists you should create, and the priority level of each playlist. See Appendix 3 for scoring details.
- The information in this chapter relates to the second part of ‘Step 1’ on the Music for Dementia website.