Create a playlist - Music for Dementia

Playlists offer a way of capturing all the songs or pieces of music that make up the soundtrack to your life

Your playlist is unique to you and can help express your identity and history. A personalised playlist can provide a source of comfort and enjoyment, helping to ensure that music listening is person-centred.

Making a playlist for someone else, particularly those no longer able to communicate using words, enables carers to tap into their likes and dislikes, memories and, most importantly, who they are as a person.

Try to find a way to help someone be a part of their musical soundtrack by involving them from the very beginning. Perhaps hum a phrase or two from a song to help get your musical conversation started – be that in person, online or down the phone.

If you are able to be with them at this time, look out for a nod, smile, frown or other gestures that will help indicate what music appeals.

When to listen

Playlists can be used at any time of the day or night to aid communication, stimulate, soothe or entertain.

Guides for making playlists online

Want to get online to make a playlist but not sure where to begin? Check out our guides for putting together your favourite tracks via an online streaming service:

BBC Music Memories is another very useful resource, designed to use music to help people with dementia reconnect with their most powerful memories.

Playlists and isolation

Here are a few ideas about how you can get music to someone. Please follow core public health advice first.

  1. Create a mix CD, and post it to them

  2. Preload a musical device with their favourite tracks and drop it at their front door (make sure they have headphones if they need them)

  3. Hold a video call – If you are on Skype, Zoom, Face Time etc. talk and listen to music together

  4. Have a musical conversation over the phone where you can listen and sing to some tracks together

  5. If they are ‘computer savvy’ send them a playlist link to a streaming service such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, YouTube etc. Use our guides below to help you create the playlist

Related articles

Join us

Would you like to help the music for Dementia campaign? Help us to help everyone living with dementia to access meaningful music.

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Advice and resources

Useful information for people living with dementia, carers, family members, health professionals and musicians.

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Research

There are many studies demonstrating how various musical activities benefit people living with dementia.

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