GREATER CHICAGO MUSIC THERAPY INC.
MUSIC THERAPY AND OLDER ADULTS
• Provides a normalizing and engaging experience
• Natural, familiar, motivating, and non-invasive
• Incorporates preferences meaningful to clients and carepartners
• Opportunity for appropriate and dignified sensory and cognitive stimulation
• Simultaneously clinical and creative
• Uses alternative means of communication, thinking, self-expression, and interaction
• Supported by research (evidence-based)
• Beneficial for those with neurological challenges like dementia due to the way the brain processes music
WHY MUSIC THERAPY IS BENEFICIAL FOR OLDER ADULTS
HOW A MUSIC THERAPIST CAN HELP OLDER ADULTS IN A GROUP SETTING
• Quickly recognizes and assesses needs
• Can adapt to needs/abilities of all group members for maximum success
• Has specialized training, knowledge and experience to facilitate optimal participation
• Copes seamlessly and smoothly with changes in group members
• Creates meaningful and preferred experiences
• Increases social interaction and enhances quality of life
• Builds group cohesion, pride, and belonging
• Balances needs of all group members
• Finds commonalities while honoring differences