Music Therapy for Older Adults,
Memory Care,& Hospice

Who We Support

Our board-certified music therapists work with older adults experiencing:

Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
Stroke or neurologic injury
Isolation, depression, or grief
Physical or cognitive decline

Hospice or end-of-life care

We serve clients in private homes, assisted living, memory care units, and adult day programs.

Bringing connection, comfort, and cognitive support through music.

Aging comes with change—but connection doesn’t have to fade.

Music therapy provides a powerful, non-invasive way to engage older adults across the continuum of aging, from active retirement to memory care and hospice.

Whether supporting communication, reducing agitation, or sparking joy, music helps reconnect individuals with themselves and their loved ones.

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Client-Centered Outcomes

Music therapy supports emotional, cognitive, and social well-being.

Benefits may include:

Increased memory recall and attention
Reduced agitation, anxiety, or wandering
Improved communication, even when speech is limited
Enhanced mood and quality of life
Increased engagement and responsiveness
Strengthened connections with caregivers and family

Sample Music Therapy Goals for Older Adults

Each plan is designed with the client’s needs, preferences, and life story in mind.

Sample goals may include:

Cognitive & Communication

Improve sustained attention during music-based tasks (e.g., singing along, call-and-response)
Stimulate memory recall using familiar songs from personal history
Increase verbalization or vocalizations during structured music activities

Emotional & Behavioral

Decrease episodes of agitation or confusion with music-based calming routines
Support grief processing through musical reminiscence or lyric discussion
Promote a sense of purpose and identity through music storytelling

Social & Relational

Facilitate positive social interaction during group singing or drumming
Re-establish emotional connection with family through personalized playlists or shared singing
Promote active participation in daily routines with familiar music cues

Physical & Sensory

Maintain or improve motor coordination through movement to music
Reduce restlessness through rhythmic entrainment and relaxation music
Support sensory integration for individuals with advanced dementia

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What to Expect in a Session

We tailor each session to the individual’s stage of aging and cognitive ability.

Sessions may include:

Singing familiar songs from their younger years
Movement to music, seated or standing
Simple instrument play (e.g., egg shakers, drums)
Lyric discussion or storytelling through music
Music-assisted relaxation techniques

Even in advanced dementia or nonverbal states, individuals often respond to rhythm, melody, and familiar sounds. Music opens doors that words cannot.

Support for Caregivers & Staff

Caregivers often tell us music therapy is the one time their loved one truly “lights up.”

We support families and staff by:

Offering strategies for music use between sessions
Sharing progress and observations
Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams

FAQ: Music Therapy for Older Adults

Q: My loved one no longer speaks. Can music still help? A: Yes. Music often reaches parts of the brain not impacted by disease. Many nonverbal clients sing, smile, or tap to the beat even in later stages of dementia. Q: Do you offer sessions in assisted living or at home? A: Yes, we offer in-home, facility-based, and virtual sessions depending on the client’s needs and location. Q: How is music therapy different from music entertainment? A: Music therapy is a clinical service with specific goals tailored to the individual. It’s led by board-certified Music Therapists who assess, adapt, and document progress over time.