The Music Project

The Program

This program aims to provide a person living with dementia with a musical intervention that is designed to stimulate memory, encourage engagement and support self-expression and sense of identity.

The Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay is committed to enhancing the quality of life for persons living with dementia. In light of the growing body of research supporting the benefit of using music to connect and engage persons living with this diagnosis, the Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay will strive to make this information more widely known as well as accessible.

The Alzheimer Society Music Project was created in response to overwhelming evidence showing the beneficial effects of music and stimulation on people living with dementia.

The Alzheimer Society Music Program reconnects people with the soundtrack of their lives by providing iPods loaded with personalized music to support a person living with dementia and improve their quality of life at no cost to eligible families.

Project Participants Receive: One iPod & charging accessory, One set of over-the-ear headphones and free music setup.

The benefits of music

Did you know? Listening to personalized music can be a powerful activity for those with dementia: music has the potential to increase physical and social activity; reignite older memories; and improve sleep, mood, cognition, communication, and overall quality of life.

Research suggests that favourite music or songs associated with personal events can trigger memory of lyrics and the experience connected to the music. This music can calm busy brain activity and enables the listener to focus on the present moment and regain connection to others. This form of music therapy has been well-studied and documented by the distinguished researchers, Dr. Connie Tomaino and Dr. Oliver Sacks.

Studies have also shown that listening to music can help reduce pain by more than 20 per cent. Listening to music often results in decreases in agitation, anxiety, sleeplessness and depression.

How to register

The Alzheimer Society Music Project is available at no cost upon approval within participating areas in Canada. Simply click HERE to fill out the registration form online. OR call our office at 345-9556