Group of seniors playing instruments

The benefits of music therapy for older people

Published: 10 November 2021
  • national
  • 10 November 2021
  • Aged Care Guide

Everyone has a favourite song or favourite artist that they like to listen to every now and then, but do you know that music can have a big impact on your overall health and wellbeing as an older person?

Music therapy is well utilised by professionals - Registered Music Therapists - on older people as there are huge quality of life benefits from listening or participating in music, whether that is physically or mentally.

The best part of music therapy is you don't have to have a musical bone in your body to participate and reap the rewards.

Registered Music Therapist, Winifred Beevers of Melbourne, has seen the huge impact music has on the lives of older people in how they act physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Music therapy is very interactive and it requires a response and reaction from the person we are working with. People do respond and they can respond, verbally, intellectually, cognitively, they can respond emotionally - often at the same time - and they can respond musically,
explains Ms Beevers.