The power of music is truly amazing, not only because it provides a gateway for relaxation, but also, it contributes positive effects to almost every area of the brain; including corpus callosum, cerebellum, amygdala, hippocampus, and many more. This idea has brought up the innovation of music therapy.
Some studies have found out that music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human functions. This is why scientists suggest that music therapy is more beneficial to people with neurological deficits such as stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Autism, Dementia patients, etc. because it offers a better approach to faster recovery.
The Significance of Music Therapy
According to Medical News Today, music triggers emotional response that could alter a person’s state of mind in a good way, reduces stress and anxiety, and also makes a person healthier and happier. In fact, researchers from McGill University in Canada conducted a 2011 study that shows listening to music increases the amount of dopamine produced in the brain – a mood-enhancing chemical, making it a feasible treatment for depression and some related psychological problems.
Silent Disco Experience for the Seniors
Since agitation and frustration are common attributions of Dementia, experts from New South Wales thought that music can give a higher chance to settle the patients’ behavioral issues and improve their mental health.
As a result, three facilities supervised by Feros Care in northern New South Wales have collaborated to propose the world’s first silent disco weekly experience which was specifically intended for the senior citizens, living with dementia. And so, plenty of aged care facilities across the globe began to adapt this procedure.
Moove and Groove Program Outcome
Through the use of bluetooth headset, a variety of playlist from The Andrews Sister, Dean Martin, Elvis and occasionally a bit of Taylor swift can already be enjoyed by the patients during the silent disco sessions.
Jennie Hewitt, one of the coordinators of this so called moove and groove program, said that a combination of music and physical movements are necessary in order to prove the several therapeutic impacts of the project.
According to her, there are some cases wherein the involved individuals became more active and attentive although at first, it was much harder for them to work in a group or to follow certain directions.
She added that when a music track is played upon the wireless headphone with some reminder of familiar words, the patients were able to practice their initiatives or base instinct.
Tess Eckert, facilitator of discos and dance teacher at Feros’s centres in Byron Bay, Bangalow and Kingscliff, mentioned that the newly-established music therapy strategy brought joy to everyone, for the reason that it encourages the seniors to dance like a youngster, and most importantly, to exercise, regardless with their age.
People also read: Older Australians Play Video Games to Avoid Dementia