It’s April! It’s time for Jazz Appreciation Month. Anyone who enjoys listening to music can attest to the fact that listening to music makes people feel good. Whether it’s jazz, or classical, or rock and roll, music can lift our spirits and make us smile. A song from the past can bring back memories of people we once knew and things we once did.
Recent studies have begun to shed some light on just how music affects the brain. One study showed that patients who listened to music before surgery felt less anxiety than those who did not listen to music, but who took anti-anxiety drugs. Other studies have shown that music has many other medical benefits. If your dad enjoys music, ask his elderly care provider to play the kinds of music he enjoys so that he can reap some health benefits.
Music improves cognitive function: A study showed that college students who listened to just ten minutes of Mozart prior to an IQ test, scored higher than those who listened to a relaxation tape or to nothing at all.
Music lowers blood pressure: In a study of patients who were aged 74 or older and undergoing cataract surgery, those who listed to music before, during, and after the surgery had lower blood pressure following surgery than those who did not listen to music.
Music reduces depression: A review of research conducted in the 1990s showed that music improves mood and reduced symptoms of depression.
Music can reduce the risk of falling: Research indicated that patients who participated in a program that trained them to perform gait and balance exercises in time with music had better balance after six months than people who did not exercise to music.
Music can help stroke victims recover: Scientists discovered that patients who listened to music for one hour per day while undergoing standard treatment for a stroke showed significant improvement in verbal memory over those who listened to audiobooks or to nothing at all.
Not only can music improve your dad’s health, but sharing the music he loves with other people, such as his elderly care provider, gives him the chance to share something about himself with others. Music can also be a great way for you to bond with your dad since he is likely to reminisce about his life while listening to music from his younger days. You may just learn things about him or his family members that you wouldn’t otherwise have known.
Sources: http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/music-and-health
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/15/health/brain-music-research/
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Elderly Care Services in Huntersville NC, please call the caring staff at BlueDot Cares today, (704) 586-9248.
Jimmy Clonaris is Managing Partner at BlueDot Cares, where he oversees operations, caregiver standards, and service delivery for in-home care across the organization. With more than 19 years of experience in healthcare and over a decade with BlueDot, he has been directly involved in building and scaling care programs that support individuals aging at home.
His work focuses on the practical side of care delivery. This includes caregiver training and oversight, care plan consistency, and coordination with families and local healthcare professionals. Jimmy is actively involved in ensuring that care is not only well-structured on paper, but executed reliably in the home.
Over the course of his career, he has worked with thousands of families navigating care decisions, from short-term recovery support to long-term in-home care. His approach is grounded in clear communication, accountability, and building systems that allow caregivers to deliver consistent, high-quality support.
Under his leadership, BlueDot Cares has grown to support tens of thousands of families while maintaining a locally operated, relationship-driven model. He continues to focus on strengthening the team, improving care standards, and ensuring families have a dependable partner when care is needed.
