How Music Therapy is Beneficial to Los Angeles Hospice Patients

While your loved one is in Los Angeles hospice care, it can be easy to feel nervous to place a beloved family member in the care of someone else. Even when you know it is the right thing to do and you are putting them in the hands of trained professionals, it can still be difficult to let them go. Fortunately, and Faith and Hope, we provide a variety of therapies that have been clinically proven to be beneficial to the elderly. One of these is music therapy. According to the Older Americans Act of 1992, music therapy is formally defined as “the use of musical or rhythmic interventions specifically selected by a music therapist to accomplish the restoration, maintenance, or improvement of social or emotional functioning, mental processing, or physical health of an older individual.” Not only is music something that everybody from all walks of life can appreciate, but there are plenty of studies to support it as an asset to individuals with a wide range of conditions, including schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here are what the experts have found regarding how music therapy can help seniors:

Promotes better cognitive skills

Many people would assume that music therapy could only do good for your mood, but research has shown actually that individuals with an organic brain disorder, which includes brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, amnesia, dementia, and delirium, are able to build on their cognitive skills with the help of music therapy. Music can provide individuals with a stronger sense of control and a healthy way of coping with their conditions. The studies also strongly support that music therapy.

Enhances cardiovascular health

Playing or listening to music helps a person breathe in a rhythmic manner. This is good for your heart and will help a person reduce their heart rate, reduce stress in their muscles, and even lower their blood pressure. It is also worth mentioning that since music is known to relieve stress, eliminating these tense feelings can result in better heart health naturally.

Helps with emotional health

Many elderly people like to listen to music that was popular during their favorite periods of their lives, triggering happy memories for the individual. Music can also bring people together and promote a rich form of self-expression. Enjoying music together, whether it be creating or just listening to it, can create new bonds and comradery among residents. 

Faith and Hope is here for youAt Faith and Hope Hospice Care, we are committed to achieving the highest well-being for all of our patients. We believe that every senior is entitled to a happy and healthy end of life. We achieve our goal through what we call the Circle of Care, which includes excellence, dignity & compassion, education, joy, and community. If you currently have an elderly family member who is in need of Los Angeles hospice care, please give us a call at (877) 797-1977 or email us at [email protected]. We look forward to meeting you and the rest of your family.