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Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust

Services

Dementia, Alzheimer's & Older Adult Care

Music therapy can support older adults and people living with dementia and Alzheimer's by creating meaningful moments of connection, comfort, communication, and emotional expression It can help people reconnect with memories, relationships, and a sense of identity, while also supporting wellbeing in care and community settings.

Music therapy with an older adult
Music therapist supporting an adult
Connection through music Supporting memory, comfort, emotional expression, and quality of life.

Supporting dignity, connection, and quality of life

Dementia and later-life care involve more than clinical needs alone. Music therapy can help create moments of recognition, joy, comfort, and emotional connection that support both the individual and the people around them.

Memory and recognition Emotional wellbeing Communication Comfort and connection Person-centred care
How We Help

In music therapy sessions the therapist will help identify areas for development to achieve outcomes such as:

Memory and recognition

Familiar music and songs can help to evoke memories, support recognition and create meaningful connection with others in reminiscence, life review and legacy work, including creative recordings.

Emotional expression

Music therapy can offer a safe way for facilitating self-expression, improving self-esteem and identity, providing emotional support and enhancing mood and quality of life even when words become difficult.

Communication and interaction

Music therapy can help reduce isolation by promoting social inclusion and interactions with others, strengthen bonds with family and carers. This can also facilitate increased communication, focus, and responsiveness with others through songs and musical activities

Comfort and reassurance

Music therapy can help create calm, support routine, and provide reassurance in moments of confusion, anxiety, or agitation.

Who It Is For

Support across care, community, and residential settings

This service may support people living with dementia, older adults experiencing isolation, emotional distress, reduced communication, or changes in cognition, as well as the wider care environments around them.

Sessions can be delivered in residential care, nursing homes, hospitals, day services, community settings, and other places where older adults may benefit from relational, music-based therapeutic support.

  • People living with dementia or memory difficulties
  • Older adults experiencing loneliness, distress, or reduced engagement
  • Care settings seeking more meaningful person-centred support
  • Families and carers wanting more connection through shared experience
Music therapy in an older adult care setting
In Practice

Creating moments that feel familiar, comforting, and alive

A song, a melody, or a shared rhythm can sometimes reach places that spoken language cannot. Music therapy can help people reconnect with memory, emotion, identity, and relationship in ways that feel immediate, human, and deeply personal.

Discuss a referral
Older adult taking part in music therapy
Our Approach

How support is delivered

01

Initial conversation

We begin by understanding the person, the setting, and the goals of support.

02

Assessment

We consider preferences, presentation, communication, emotional needs, and therapeutic fit.

03

Therapy delivery

Sessions are tailored to support connection, comfort, communication, and wellbeing.

04

Review

Support is reviewed collaboratively so it remains meaningful, responsive, and person-centred.