As a family caregiver who spends a lot of time and uses a lot of energy looking after your aging loved one and juggling the other things in your life, you could really use the relaxing and healing influence of music in your life. Music is good for everyone; it’s therapeutic. You could ask your parent’s elder care provider to help put more music in your loved one’s life as well.
Music can change your life. You can make it, change it, add to it, listen to it, stream it, play it, create it and turn it up or down. Here are some of the things you can do with music:
- Play music. You can play it directly from any type of musical instrument or for those less musically inclined, play it from a device that stores music digitally. Don’t be intimidated by thinking music is too hard to learn if you’ve always had a desire to make some music. Think of trying a harmonica, recorder, banjo, drums, guitar or bells. There are so many ways to make beautiful sounds!
- Create music. Write down some poems or lyrics to make into a song. Pluck some chords on the guitar or get a friend to write some notes to go with your words. Try your hand at it. You would never know how fun it is until you try.
- Seek music. Find new sounding music. Something you’ve never heard before. Try listening to music from other cultures and other countries in the world.
- Moving to the music is one of the best ways to truly enjoy it. Just let your body move to the beat. It’s very good exercise and helps you to relax and enjoy yourself.
- Share the music. Make music for someone else or just play music for someone. Your elderly loved one especially would benefit from more music in her life as well. Those with dementia or Alzheimer’s have shown to be calmed down and relaxed when listening to music familiar to them or from their era.
Music can improve your life. Research shows it can help lower your stress levels, especially when it’s music you particularly enjoy. It lowers blood pressure levels and helps you to be more optimistic.
Music helps your body to reduce pain. It works through allowing the brain to increase tolerance and assume more control over the pain stimulus. When working out, music helps you keep a rhythm and studies show people are more likely to stick with their workout routine longer when they have music to listen to.
Since there’s a ton of evidence linking music lessons to improving IQ scores, anyone who wants to be smarter can use music to take advantage of that benefit. Music can also help you become a more compassionate and better person.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Norwalk, CT or the surrounding areas, please contact SYNERGY HomeCare of Stamford, CT at (203) 340-0652.
