October 30, 2026 | By Vista Living Care
A favorite song can make room for connection without requiring someone to remember a date or explain a thought. For a person living with dementia, listening, humming, or quietly sharing a melody may be an enjoyable way to spend time together.
Music and dementia are often discussed in terms of treatment. There is also a place for something simpler: choosing music that matters to the person and paying attention to how they experience it. The goal can be a comfortable, meaningful moment.
Music and Dementia: What does the research say?
A 2025 Cochrane review summary reported that structured music interventions probably improve depressive symptoms in people with dementia by the end of treatment. Evidence for other outcomes was less certain or did not show a clear benefit. Most participants lived in care homes.
Those findings do not mean that any playlist will improve memory or that music will reliably stop distress. Music is not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health also describes uncertainty about effects on cognitive functioning.
Enjoyment still matters, even when there is no measurable change in memory. A shared experience does not have to meet a clinical goal to be worth making time for.
Start with the person’s music
Ask your loved one what they would like to hear if they can tell you. Family members may also remember a favorite performer, a song from a celebration, or music that was part of everyday life.
Try to be specific. “Likes music from the 1960s” is a beginning, but “loved this singer while cooking Sunday dinner” gives you a more personal place to start. Avoid choosing solely by age or assuming that a song you enjoy will feel the same to them.
| What you know about the person | A starting idea | What to notice |
| A favorite singer | Offer one familiar recording | Do they seem interested or comfortable? |
| A love of singing | Invite a shared song | Do they want to join or simply listen? |
| A history of dancing | Try gentle seated movement if appropriate | Is the movement comfortable? |
| A preference for quiet | Offer a short, soft selection | Would silence feel better today? |
| Strong feelings about certain songs | Ask before playing them | Does the music bring comfort or distress? |
The table offers ideas to try, not a prescribed program. A preference can change from one day to another.
Make listening comfortable
The Alzheimer’s Association’s music guidance recommends familiar, enjoyable selections and attention to competing sounds and the person’s response.
- Begin with a brief selection and a comfortable volume.
- Turn off other audio so several sounds are not competing.
- Offer participation without insisting on singing or movement.
- Watch for signs that the person wants a break or a different song.
- Stop or change the music if it appears upsetting.
Avoid leaving music on simply because it helped earlier. Continuous sound can become tiring. Headphones are an option only if the person finds them comfortable and they fit safely; a shared speaker may feel more social.
Build a small collection together
Consider keeping a short note for each song: what it is, why you chose it, and how your loved one responded. You might notice that one selection works well during a relaxed visit while another feels too intense.
Share useful observations with other caregivers. Describe what you saw without turning it into a promise. “She seemed to enjoy listening while we sat together” is more accurate than “This song always calms her.”
Allow the collection to evolve. The person’s current experience matters more than completing a playlist or recreating the past exactly.
Common questions
Is playing a playlist the same as music therapy?
No. Music therapy involves a qualified professional using music toward individualized therapeutic goals. Listening together can be a meaningful activity without being a clinical service.
What if my loved one does not respond?
There is no need to require a visible response. Offer the experience gently, check whether they seem comfortable, and be willing to try something else.
Making room for meaningful moments
Vista Living Care’s approach centers on knowing each person and creating opportunities for connection. Our memory care homes in Santa Fe and Las Cruces value familiar interests, relationships, and the pleasures of daily life.
Learn more about support for your family by calling 505 578 3154 or contacting Vista Living Care. Making Moments, Memory Optional.