According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia will cost $236 billion this year in the United States alone. Besides the significant monetary cost, memory loss can also take a significant toll on personal relationships. What’s more, changes in mood and personality can dramatically alter a family’s way of life. Unfortunately, medications that treat memory loss are expensive and still have a long way to go before they are truly effective. That’s why many aging services providers are adopting alternative therapies for older adults with memory loss, in addition to medication. These therapies can help people with memory loss connect with their loved ones, soothe emotional distress and reduce the need for antipsychotics.
Music & Memory, a personalized music therapy program for those with memory loss, has shown real impact on mood, social engagement and family relationships, and it has our attention here at Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services (CMSS). The program is gaining traction across the country as another tool for helping those with memory loss.