Music Has Wonderful Health Benefits for Seniors

Companion Care in Los Gatos, CA and Surrounding Areas

Music is magical in the sense that it can have amazing health benefits with no adverse side effects.

Music Health Benefits for Seniors

Taking care of your elderly loved one can mean taking on a lot of tasks to help her health stay in good shape. It can mean medication reminders, preparing healthy meals, arranging regular doctor visits, and so much more. Sometimes keeping your loved one healthy can seem like an endless list of chores. That’s when companion care at home can step in to provide assistance and companionship.

But listening to and enjoying music doesn’t feel like much of a chore at all, and it has amazing health benefits for your senior. By enjoying music in some form regularly, your senior might benefit from these healthy perks.

• Lower blood pressure
• Reduced pain
• Slower heart rate
• Decreased feelings of anxiety
• Improved mood
• Stronger memory

Add a little dancing to that music, and your loved one can receive physical health benefits as well, such as:

• Improved flexibility
• Better balance
• Stronger muscles and bones
• Improved cardiovascular health

Adding Music to Your Loved One’s Routine

One of the great things about music is that there are so many forms of it,  just about everyone can have a favorite or two. It might be music they loved growing up such as big band music or 60s teeny-bopper music. It can be music that calms like instrumentals and classical. It can be loud and raucous like rock or rap. It can be music to dance to, music to sleep to, or music to enjoy while sitting and sipping a favorite drink.

Five Ways to Incorporate More Music into Your Elderly Loved One’s Week

1. Introduce your loved one to Customized Playlists. Your loved one may not be used to accounts where they can go on, pick out all of their favorite songs, and add them to a playlist. Or they can visit pre-generated playlists in their favorite music genres. Help your loved one navigate these apps so she can have her favorite music on hand whenever she needs an extra boost to her day.
2. Search for local concerts. If your loved one enjoys sitting and enjoying music, look for local concerts to attend. One free, or very inexpensive way to enjoy music and get out in the community is to go to school concerts. From elementary to college, schools have concerts anyone can enjoy.
3. Watch musicals. If your loved one has mobility issues, she might enjoy watching musicals and singing along with the songs. Mix it up with her favorite musicals from her youth, as well as some more modern-day musicals to watch. And don’t forget family-friendly movies like Disney and Pixar that are often packed with songs to enjoy as she watches.
4. Attend church services. Many places of worship regularly have singing as part of their services. If her faith is important to her, your loved one may feel uplifted by participating in church choirs or just singing along with everyone else in the pews.
5. Have regular music days at home. Your loved one can enjoy music at home with a companion care at home provider. Her companion care at home provider can bring along music for them to enjoy together by listening or even doing a little dancing. A companion care at home provider will also help your loved one feel connected to someone who cares while enjoying her favorite tunes.

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring companion care at home in Los Gatos, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 317-4969.