Advice for people living with dementia at home
Advice for people living with dementia at home
There are many ways to incorporate music into your life; it acts as a social bridge and evokes emotions.
This could be making time to sit and listen to a favourite album or song or tuning into radio programmes that play music you enjoy listening to. You could also create playlists of your favourites to suit different times of day or moods.
If you are or were an instrumentalist maybe try building in a few minutes a day of playing. Are there family members or friends who you could ask to play with you, even via a video call?
Music for you
Make a note of how different music choices made you feel, so that you know in future what to turn to for relaxation, a mood boost etc. Let your friends and family know what you’re enjoying and what hasn’t worked, so they are aware too.
It’s worth knowing that your preferences may change over time and that some people are very receptive to ‘new’ music.
Social connection
Music can be a useful bridge in keeping connections alive and creating opportunities to link with friends through social music making such as choirs and music groups. This can help to reduce feelings of isolation and create purposeful and meaningful interactions with others, creating feel good moments and shared experiences.
Find out what’s available near you via our Musical Map or talk to support organisations about their activities.
If you are having difficulty getting to groups due to lack of transport or a physical disability, talk with the music group about how they might be able to support you in attending sessions.

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