12 Benefits Of Music Therapy To Seniors
Introduction
Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music to meet therapeutic goals. Music therapists might work with people who have developmental disabilities, physical or sensory impairments, psychiatric disorders, lifelong challenges involving declining abilities in functional tasks.
There are many benefits to using music therapy in these cases. Music can improve moods and promote healing in the body and mind. Listening to soothing songs may reduce anxiety or sadness associated with an illness or disability—especially when paired with other therapies like occupational therapy for children who cannot talk about their feelings otherwise. It can also help individuals maintain cognitive functioning by increasing mental alertness and improving memory recall (particularly among older adults).
What Are The Benefits Of Music Therapy?
1. Improves Mental Functioning
Music has the power to increase mental performance, particularly for individuals suffering from conditions related to the aging process such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Music stimulates the brain by triggering biochemical reactions that help create new cells and release neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain that allow communication between neurons). Music therapy also promotes emotion and memory recall among people with serious illnesses such as cancer or HIV/AIDS.
2. Therapy On Its Own
Music can be a powerful tool in your arsenal even if you’re not using it to treat a medical condition—it can be used as an alternative to pharmaceuticals for improving mood, stress relief, and pain management. Researchers have shown that music therapy can lower blood pressure, decrease pulse rates, and reduce anxiety among patients during pre-surgical procedures. It also helps to improve the quality of life and decrease the symptoms of depression as well as anxiety.
3. Decreases Pain
Music therapy can be used in any number of ways to neutralize or lessen the effects of acute and chronic pain, including arthritis, cancer treatment side effects, and surgery recovery. One study reported that 57 percent of adult participants using music for pain management felt less severe pain after listening to relaxing songs for an extended period of time (about 30 minutes). Music also helps block out distracting hospital noises for more restful sleep in hospital environments.
4. Rehabilitates Patients In The Hospital
Music is a fantastic tool for providing comfort to your loved ones when they’re in the hospital—and it can also help speed up recovery time. One study observed that music therapy increased functional mobility among patients suffering from chronic illnesses like cancer and heart failure, making it easier for them to get out of bed and walk around. When paired with other forms of rehabilitation like physical or occupational therapy, music proven to help reduce loneliness and fear among hospitalized children.
5. Promotes Physical Development
Music therapy can be used effectively in outpatient treatments as well, like physical therapy sessions. One study found that music had a positive effect on walking speed and the ability to rise from a chair among patients with spinal cord injuries. Music can also help patients with developmental disabilities improve balance, coordination, and motor skills.
6. Increases Socialization
Music therapy is also used by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to enhance communication between autistic children and their caregivers. SLPs use music tracks as alternative modes of communication; they present songs with lyrics that teach basic concepts like colors and numbers to the children who are unable to speak. The children then learn to use the music as an alternative language to communicate effectively.
7. Encourages Creative Expression
In creative arts therapies, music is used as an outlet for self-expression and communication. Music therapists can also use music to help patients who have experienced traumatic events express their emotions, or encourage them to communicate with their caregivers or loved ones. Creative arts therapists can also guide their patients in songwriting and musical performance, which has been shown to increase self-esteem while improving communication skills.
8. Helps To Improve Health
Some scientific studies have found that music therapy can effectively treat a variety of conditions ranging from chronic pain to depression and even substance abuse. Music therapy is also used for social anxiety in children, couples with unresolved sexual issues, and those who suffer from eating disorders.
9. Increases Self-Esteem Among Adolescents
Adolescents who have a goal of attending college or enlisting in the military have shown improvements in their self-esteem after participating in music therapy sessions. In one study involving teenagers coping with life-threatening illnesses, participants in the music therapy group reported feeling more confident about their ability to withstand the emotional challenges that come with living with a specific disease or disability.
10. Helplessness And Spirituality
Music therapy has also been found to be an effective tool in the treatment of depression, hopelessness, and feelings of helplessness among patients with terminal illnesses. Music is also used as a spiritual conduit for patients of all religious denominations. In addition to stimulating emotions, music is often used in prayer because it allows individuals to connect with their higher power—and even envision the face of God.
11. Speeds Up Rehabilitation Post-Surgery
Music therapy has been shown to improve rehabilitation time for patients who have undergone surgery and require physical therapy afterward to regain their muscle tone and strength. In fact, a study found that patients who received music therapy after surgery were able to walk before their non-music therapy counterparts.
12. Depression And Anxiety In Children
Music also has the ability to positively affect the mental health of children. According to a study conducted in 1995, music therapy was found to be a powerful tool for treating children with depression and anxiety disorders. These effects can last up to two years after participating in music therapy sessions, which is fairly significant considering the short amount of sessions required for the positive results.
Conclusion
Although the exact mechanisms of music therapy have not been pinpointed just yet, it would seem that music has the ability to stimulate positive effects in mood, increase confidence and improve social skills among children with autism spectrum disorders. In addition to these benefits, many of the other positive aspects of music therapy can be observed in each of our daily lives. It seems that we encounter music every day at work, home or even while having a conversation with a friend or loved one. Music has become an irreplaceable part of our society and everyday lives; it is an integral part of human history. As a species that communicates more through sound than vision, it comes as no surprise that sound is something we humans utilize to communicate on such a vast scale.