Music therapy‘Music therapy helps to calm people with dementia if they experience states of agitation,’ says Professor Felicity Baker, University of Melbourne.
Felicity’s research shows that singing to people with dementia improves their symptoms. ‘This is amazing because dementia is a degenerative disease,’ she says.‘Music also generates autobiographical recall.
If someone with dementia listens to music they know, it stimulates their memories. That helps to calm the person.’ Felicity wants the benefits of music therapy to be widely available.
She created the Homeside study, used in countries around the world. This program guides carers to use music to help people with dementia complete everyday tasks.Computer music therapyBut carers cannot always be present.