It’s no secret that music is a wonderful source of healing, aside from mere entertainment. Due to its health benefits, many doctors have recommended music therapy as a way to improve mental and emotional well-being. Studies have shown that participants under music therapy have lower levels of stress, are much happier, and can express themselves well. Therefore, music therapy is also used in professional medical settings.
Here at Aston Gardens at Pelican Marsh, we encourage our residents to interact with music to improve their quality of life. These are some music therapy activities for your loved ones to participate in.
Sing-Along Session
Music therapy usually occurs in a group setting, and when that occurs, residents can sing along together. This fosters bonding among participants and provides an opportunity for them to get together. If your loved one is suffering from loneliness or rarely enjoys socializing, sing-along sessions are great icebreakers and make one feel more comfortable in a social setting. Depending on the songs chosen, participants should provide lyrics either printed on a sheet of paper or through an app.
Drumming
The drum is a piece of accessible music equipment as we could drum on pretty much all hard surfaces, be it on tables or chairs. There’s no real need to get your hands on actual drums. From drumming sessions, participants can either use real or makeshift drums and drum along to the music. Unsurprisingly, this works in favor of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia as the mind focuses on rhythm. Over time, the brain’s cognitive health will improve, slowing down mental decline.
Listening to Music
Just good old listening to music has ample benefits to our health. Whether it’s through a CD or building a playlist on Spotify or Apple Music, listening to music is a relaxing activity that requires no effort and instantly calms the mind. For your loved ones, you can even consider purchasing headphones if they aren’t able to hear well. Playing music also does not only have to take place in group settings but it can also be played in the comfort of their own homes.
Vibro-Acoustic Therapy
Vibro-acoustic therapy is sound therapy that involves scientific experimentation in merging low-frequency vibrations with slow and soft music. Listening to the sound waves stimulate the body into a therapeutic state of relaxation, and flowing positive energy throughout. Over time, participants have reported having lower blood pressure, a reduction in pain and muscle tension, and even better sleep patterns at night.
Why Choose Aston Gardens at Pelican Marsh?
In our independent living community, our residents’ happiness and well-being are our utmost priority. As such, we make sure to provide many exciting activities and events for residents to enjoy. We have a full-time activities director who is responsible for ensuring that the activities schedule is updated daily. From arts and crafts to music programs, rest assured your loved one is well taken care of. To find out more about Aston Gardens at Pelican Marsh, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling 239.215.3356 today.
