Explore how music therapy, familiar songs, and art activities offer comfort, memory support, and anxiety relief for those living with dementia, alongside meditation and supportive environments.
Dementia Treatment with Music Therapy: Is it Possible? The answer is yes, along with other vital information about naturally treating dementia that you’ll find in this article:
Music Therapy for Dementia: Is it Possible?
Dementia can cause those affected to forget how to perform simple and basic tasks, such as brushing their teeth or combing their hair. Their thinking becomes unclear, and they may have difficulty recognizing people and familiar places. They may also have problems reading and writing. All of this can affect those who care for the patient, whether they are two relatives or caretakers. This is where music therapy comes in.
Music therapy can be very helpful because it can soothe dementia patients who are experiencing anxiety or agitation. It can also help maintain some memory and reduce symptoms of depression. Touching it can be beneficial in the advanced stages of the disease, and some believe it can improve appetite.
How to Use Music Therapy for Dementia?
You can use the following types of music when helping to treat dementia:
- Familiar songs that the dementia patient liked, especially songs they listened to during childhood and adolescence. This helps them recall memories when hearing them.
- Songs with a calm and relaxing rhythm can help relieve nervous tension and stress in dementia patients, and may encourage them to dance.
- Children’s songs, because they are simple, gentle, and the lyrics are unforgettable and easy to remember. This makes it easy for dementia patients to communicate with them, and may help teach them something new.
- Calming music, as it can help reduce anxiety and stress that dementia patients feel. Listening to calming music before bed is best for reducing sleep disturbances.
You can also use a karaoke machine to help dementia patients learn songs.
To know what kind of music dementia patients like to listen to, pay attention to their facial expressions, especially if they cannot communicate verbally.
Other Art Therapy Methods for Treating Dementia
In addition to music’s role in treating dementia, you can use other art therapy methods to help treat this disease, including the following:
- Drawing or painting, as they greatly help with memory recovery.
- Reading a story or specific memories to the dementia patient. Through this, communication with the dementia patient who cannot speak is possible, thus creating an opportunity for them to express what’s going on inside them.
Practicing these methods with dementia patients is one of the art therapy methods to help treat their illness. Family and relatives should follow the following tips with them:
- Giving them only as much information and direction as they can handle to avoid confusion and anxiety.
- Teaching them how to do some simple tasks again and again. So, if the patient has difficulty remembering how to brush their teeth or oil their hair.
- Not criticizing their actions or making them feel embarrassed.
- Showing them only positive reactions and avoiding questions that can frustrate them.
Other Natural Treatments That May Help Treat Dementia
The following are some natural methods that can help treat dementia patients:
1. Meditation
Meditation can help treat dementia patients in two ways, namely:
- Reducing the anxiety and stress that dementia patients experience.
- Helping dementia patients sleep better.
2. Providing Supportive Environments
Dementia patients, especially if they spend most of their time at home, greatly benefit from having a supportive environment near them.
The features of a supportive environment for the patient’s mobility. For example, dementia patients who can walk and go out with a dog can greatly benefit from this, and if the patient cannot move, they can enjoy being in a comfortable place.
4. Practicing Hobbies
Hobbies, such as gardening or cooking, from the patient’s previous life before the onset of the disease can improve things in a subtle way for them.
