Songs give clients individual or group identity through validation, support, and expression of feelings. Songs give us empowerment and control, connectedness and acceptance, meaning, and purpose in life, and hope. (Cheryl Delio: 1999)
Most of us have witnessed the impact on an individual enduring dementia and Alzheimer’s. It is very difficult to stand by and watch their personal identity slowly drift away.
When working with dementia and Alzheimer’s I have seen the value and affective change that music therapy can bring to a person’s life. Music is charged emotionally and it elicits unique feelings and memories for each individual. As music is one of the last memory centres of the brain to deteriorate with dementia and Alzheimer’s, we have the ability to continue to connect with these individuals throughout their lifetime, allowing us to see their “old” self. Music therapy becomes an extremely meaningful and validating experience because through music we are able to reconnect, acknowledge, and support these individuals as they share their unique life stories.
No matter what your personal experience is, music serves as a universal language. You may not have expertise in music but you still identify with the melody, harmony, rhythm, and lyrics in music. All of us have the capacity to be emotionally moved by a piece of music. Music brings people together as a community and nation. It connects. As one of my clients stated so well;
“Music is the key to wellbeing. It’s a great language that can be transferred from one group of people to another. Even if they don’t know the language, they know music.”
There is a wide range of music therapy techniques and song choices used with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Each song choice will trigger different memories and connect with each individual in a different way. So it is important to have a Music Therapist present as they are trained to engage and connect with their clients to promote health, growth, and restoration.