Music Therapy for Dementia: The Evidence and What to Expect in Aged Care

For families and aged care providers across the Hunter Valley and Lake Macquarie region, music therapy for people living with dementia is one of the most requested services we offer. Cochrane found it reduces agitation and improves quality of life in people with dementia (van der Steen et al.). The reasons it works are rooted in how the human brain processes and stores music. This guide explains the neuroscience, the research, what sessions actually look like, and how to access music therapy for a loved one in residential or community-based aged care.

Why music works for people with dementia

The answer lies in neuroanatomy. Dementia progressively damages the brain's explicit memory systems: the hippocampus and surrounding structures that store factual and episodic memories. This is why people living with dementia may not remember what they had for breakfast, or fail to recognise family members. But musical memory is stored differently. The neural networks that process familiar music (particularly music from a person's adolescence and early adulthood) are distributed across multiple brain regions, including those involved in emotional memory, motor function and procedural learning. These networks are often the last to be affected by dementia.

This is why a person with advanced dementia who cannot recall their spouse's name may still be able to sing every word of a song from their wedding. The music opens access to emotional and autobiographical information in a way that verbal questioning cannot.

What does the research say?

The evidence for music therapy in dementia care is among the strongest in the allied health field. A systematic review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (van der Steen et al.) found that music therapy interventions reduced agitation and improved quality of life in people with dementia. Additional research has documented improvements in mood, reduced anxiety, better sleep patterns, improved communication, and reduced behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including wandering, aggression and depression.

Critically, the evidence supports both active music-making and receptive listening approaches, and both individual and group delivery formats.

What happens in a music therapy session for dementia?

Sessions are tailored to the individual's cognitive stage, personal music history and current needs. A Registered Music Therapist begins by building a music preference profile, gathering information from the person themselves and their family members about meaningful music from throughout their life. This forms the foundation of the therapy.

Active approaches include singing familiar songs, playing simple instruments, music-movement activities and music-assisted reminiscence, using songs as prompts for sharing memories and life history. Receptive approaches include live music performance, carefully selected recordings, and music-assisted relaxation for agitation or anxiety. Sessions typically run 30 to 60 minutes and are adjusted in real time based on the person's engagement and response.

Individual vs group music therapy in aged care

Both individual and group music therapy have strong evidence in aged care settings. Individual sessions allow for deep personalisation. The therapist can respond moment-to-moment to the person's mood, cognitive state and engagement. They are particularly valuable for people in later stages of dementia or those with significant agitation. Group sessions offer different benefits: social engagement, shared experience, connection with peers and reduced isolation. For people who retain reasonable social capacity, group music therapy can be deeply meaningful and enjoyable.

How to access music therapy for a family member in aged care

Watagan Health Hub provides music therapy services to older adults living at home and in residential aged care facilities across Lake Macquarie, the Hunter Valley and the Central Coast. Funding options include facility-funded or resident self-funded sessions, DVA for eligible veterans, Home Care Packages (Levels 1 to 4) through an approved provider, and CHSP for eligible community-based clients. To arrange a referral or discuss options, visit our music therapy Lake Macquarie page, book a music therapy session online, or read our complete introduction in the article what is music therapy.