Flex Those Vocal Muscles: A Sing-Along Strategy for Dementia Care
When is the last time you sang? At a karaoke bar? As part of a choir? In your car alone with the volume turned up? Whether it’s in high notes, low ones, or hopelessly out of tune, breaking out into song is an easy way to put a smile on one’s face. Yet the benefits of singing go beyond offering momentary pleasure. A study by the University of Helsinki shows how the act of singing may have an even more profound and long-term effect on our well-being than we think.
The study examined the effects of both singing and listening to familiar music on those with varying stages of dementia. Singing was shown to improve numerous cognitive functions such as memory, executive function (also known as the brain’s command centre) and orientation, particularly for those with mild dementia. Listening to music also enhanced cognition, but only for those in the later stages of dementia. Both musical approaches proved to be emotional ‘pick-me-ups’ due to their benefits in treating depression.
As rates of dementia reach public health crisis levels in countries such as Canada and the US, the need for creative, non-drug, cost-effective dementia care strategies becomes ever greater. Singing a familiar tune is that type of strategy. Whether you’re a family member of someone with dementia, a professional caregiver or simply a caring friend, all you have to do is pick a song and flex those vocal muscles—you may be surprised at the good it can do!
