Music is so ingrained into our lives, from TV and film soundtracks to our own musical choices, and even what the radio introduces us to — it’s constant. Turns out, this can be a good thing for the brain. Why?

The power of music on the brain is so incredible that it can increase emotional and cognitive functioning by releasing dopamine and conversely reducing cortisol levels to improve mood, memory, and focusing abilities. The domino effect of these improvements is improved sleep and motivation: key factors to active aging and a healthy and happy life.

How Listening to Music Works on Your Brain

When we are stressed, our bodies automatically resort to the fight or flight response as a result of the stress hormone cortisol. This takes up a lot of energy — energy better spent on more nurturing activities and ways to handle situations. A build-up of cortisol levels can weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses, as well as increased feelings of agitation and anger.

Cortisol injected into the bloodstream can lead to muscle tension, increased heart rate, and spikes in blood pressure. Since listening to music that you enjoy reduces cortisol levels, your body is able to relax into its natural rhythms, meaning better sleep patterns as well as mental clarity and alertness.

“Your brain lights up like a Christmas tree when you listen to music. Music is really such a complex stimulus, and you can use it in an intentional way for general wellness,” says neurologic music therapist and Associate Professor in the Bower School of Music & the Arts, Kimberly Sena Moore.

Thus, music is an excellent “anti-aging” tool to keep your brain engaged – and your heart happy, listening to those tunes! 

Do you know how or wish to learn how to sing or play an instrument? Even better.

How Does Music Relate to Neuroscience

According to research by Simon Landry at the University of Montreal, “As people get older, for example, we know their reaction times get slower,” says Landry. “So, if we know that playing a musical instrument increases reaction times, then maybe playing an instrument will be helpful for them.”

He also concluded that people who play an instrument have faster auditory, tactile, and audio-tactile reaction times. 

What Part of The Brain Does Music Stimulate?

There are three main areas of your brain that music affects: the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and the cerebellum. These areas are what stimulate emotional responses in the listener, which is why you might find yourself identifying certain emotions with certain songs.

Music also has the power to create new neuropathways because “music is one of the few things that crosses both hemispheres of the brain, helping to create new neural pathways for language,” explains Blake French, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS.

This fact makes it an excellent tool to use with elderly people who’ve suffered from a stroke or live with dementia and Alzheimer’s, as part of their rehabilitation to increase communication and even confidence.

Benefits of Music on The Aging Brain

Perhaps you took piano lessons when you were younger or played in the school band. All that time wasn’t just for fun, it was also helping to create additional neural connections that can help compensate for cognitive declines later in life. The motor control and coordination needed to play an instrument, as well as using your mouth and breath for wind instruments and singing, along with learning how to read music, all contribute to a brain boost that’ll pay-off in your senior years.

It does not mean if you didn’t learn while you were young that you can’t benefit from learning an instrument or even simply listening to music now.

How Learning an Instrument Can Benefit the Aging Brain

• Concentration
• Self-discipline
• Confidence
• Act as a Protective Factor Against Cognitive Decline
• Healthy Aging
• Social Engagement and Co-operation
• Imagination or The Recall of Personal Memories
• Cognitive Advantage:
• Working Memory, Immediate Verbal Recall, and Verbal Fluency

How Listening to Music Can Impact the Aging Brain

• Dopamine hit! Music and emotions are closely linked. How many times have you listened to a song, and it’s evoked a sense of nostalgia, joy, sadness, or excitement?
• Memories and memory recall

There is a relationship between music and better mental health, in which music acts as a creative way to process emotions, trauma and grief. It can also be used to regulate and calm emotions.

Why Does Music Help Those Living with Dementia?

The cognitive advantage of intentionally incorporating music into your life has the benefit of exercising memory muscle, immediate verbal and information recall, and verbal fluency.

Think of it this way: playing an instrument requires you to perform certain steps in a certain order. You learn the note names, rhythm, how to make a note on your instrument, then repetition makes perfect! This repeated practice creates that strong muscle memory. It also promotes memory recall and focused attention.

What Type of Music is Beneficial for Seniors? 

Does a certain type of music work better than others? Research says no. The effect of music on the brain is largely in the mechanics of it – as well as personal attachment. Perhaps you’re a smooth jazz fan, into country, rock, blues, or pop. It doesn’t really matter the musical style, it’s how the individual brain is familiar with a particular genre or song that will trigger the emotion, memory, etc.

When using music for therapeutic purposes, it’s helpful to keep in mind that different styles can inherently create different responses. Upbeat music with positive lyrics is bound to generate energy and happy emotions. Soothing music is probably more prone to create a calm and focused environment.

Whether learning or listening, music plays a vital role in healthy aging. This is why we incorporate Java Music Club into our signature Life Enrichment program at Verve Senior Living — because we believe that nurturing the mind, body and spirit is crucial to vitality.

Register for our virtual event today!

Aging parents is something we all experience at some point in our lives — knowing what to expect can help make the difference in being prepared, especially if you live far away. By equipping yourself with as much knowledge of both your loved one’s health, as well as care options available, you’ll be able to best create a long-distance care strategy.

What can you really do from afar?

Providing care for a loved one can be a difficult task — when done from afar, it can sometimes feel insurmountable. But no matter the distance, rest assured there is still a lot you can do.

We’ve rounded up our top tips to keep in mind as a long-distance caregiver.

1.    Use technology. Set a regular telephone or FaceTime schedule to keep in touch (because the best thing you can give a senior is your time). Also consider giving your elderly loved one a cell phone — along with a crash course on how to use it — for peace of mind in an emergency. Set up their contact list so they can easily dial whomever they may need.

2.    Stay updated. Technology is again useful here, through teleconferencing with doctors, an assisted living team, and other pertinent contacts who have an active role in your parent’s life. Staying in-the-know of appointments and health updates will help to support your loved one.

3.    Seek assistance. Whether financial assistance or that of a senior care professional, it’s okay to ask for help. No one is meant to do this alone. Now is the time to have that family meeting and explore different living arrangements. Find a Verve Senior Living Community near you and reach out — we can help take care of your loved ones when you can’t be there.

4.    Be organized. Keep a record of all important information, including personal, health, financial, and legal. Organize the essential paperwork first, so you can fill in the blanks from there. Having a copy of everything and keeping things up to date will help should the unforeseen happen.

5.    Have an emergency plan. Establishing a plan before a crisis occurs will help you to feel more in control should the time come. Have someone you trust close-by who you would be able to call on in the case of an emergency.

6.    Stay connected — with your loved one as well as with other family members and friends. Keeping up communication goes a long way to strengthen relationships and elevate spirits. Sharing the emotional toll of long-distance care for elderly parents will help keep you from burning out or feeling guilt about “not being there”.

What should you do if your parents are neglecting your help?

Living far away from your parents isn’t selfish, though when the time comes that they need help more regularly, it can often feel that way. Should you move back home to take care of your parents? Ultimately, that is a decision for your family to make together. However, it’s very important to weigh all of your options and available resources before that needs to be considered.

Communities, such as Verve Senior Living, are dedicated to ensuring the best possible care for seniors. In some cases, they add professional care that we as family members can’t always provide. What we can do is be there for our loved ones by providing a strong emotional foundation so that everyone involved knows you’re in it together.

Dehydration is simply the body losing more fluids than it’s taking in. We need water to stay alive — even more than nutrients from food as staying hydrated helps to regulate temperature, deliver nutrients to our cells, aid with cognitive function, rid the body of waste, and lubricate the joints.

As we age, staying hydrated is even more important as dehydration can lead to serious health complications.

Dehydration and Seniors

Dehydration in seniors can result in constipation, seizures from electrolyte imbalances, kidney problems, and loss of balance as a decline in the body’s fluids means there are fewer water reserves to draw from. In addition, our “thirst response” weakens as we age, so we might not even know we need that all-important H2O.

Causes of dehydration

1.    Mobility issues. Older adults who don’t move around as much will access water sources less, and thereby their intake can be automatically lowered.

2.    Underlying health conditions. Whether you’re aware of them or not, underlying conditions such as kidney disease or diabetes can cause the body to lose more fluid than the average person.

3.    Illness. Any time you are sick, from the sniffles through to vomiting, diarrhea or fever, your body expels fluids, and it can be more difficult to keep up with water intake as you may be experiencing corresponding loss of appetite, etc.

4.    Medications. Blood pressure medications can cause increased urination. Check the contraindications on your medication, as increased urination may be a side effect.

5.    The heat. From simple exposure to heat stroke, any time spent in hot or humid conditions will provoke the body’s sweat response, creating automatic fluid loss.

Common symptoms of dehydration

Now that we know the causes, let’s look at the common symptoms of dehydration.

• Cracked lips & dry mouth
• Dry skin
• Less frequent urination
• Dark-coloured & strong-smelling urine
• Fatigue & Dizziness
• Headaches
• Muscle cramps
• Increased heart rate
• Confusion
• Movement troubles
• Fainting
• Diarrhea or vomiting that lasts longer than 24 hours

If someone is experiencing any of the last five symptoms, has bloody or black stool, or can’t keep fluids down, it’s time to call the doctor as these more serious symptoms require medical attention.

Dehydration and Blood Pressure

Dehydration can absolutely cause changes in blood pressure. Studies have shown that consistent dehydration can worsen hypertension because your brain responds to increased sodium levels by sending a signal to the pituitary gland to secrete an antidiuretic hormone (Vasopressin) that requires the kidneys to reabsorb more water.

Dehydration can also decrease your blood volume, leading to lower blood pressure that manifests as feeling dizzy, weak, and tired. In severe cases, low blood pressure can lead to hypovolemic shock.

Other harmful effects of not drinking enough water

Over time, the compound effect of dehydration can lead to increased health issues such as:

·      Urinary tract infections

·      Kidney stones & failure

·      Seizures

·      Hypovolemic shock

Tips to prevent dehydration in seniors

When factoring in the climate, the amount of exercise, overall health, and other factors such as gender and weight of a senior, it’s a good idea to speak with your healthcare provider to determine what the perfect amount of H2O per day is for you.

Here are some tips to incorporate hydration daily

1) Drink water regularly! It may sound simple but can be surprisingly difficult. Keeping a tally or setting a reminder alarm can be helpful.

2) Make it appealing. Bored of water? Milk, flavoured sparkling water, and low-sugar fruit juices are suitable substitutes for the odd glass of H2O. You can also try adding a spritz of lemon or lime for a natural taste enhancer with added benefits. Coffee and tea can have the opposite of a desired effect, so drink sparingly.

3) Eat your greens, along with fruit, low-sodium soups and broths — anything with a high-water content such as watermelon, cucumber, celery, and strawberries can be beneficial!

4) Plan your water breaks. If exercise or hot weather are on the schedule, plan to drink more water that day to balance their dehydrating effects. Similarly, if you’re ill, try to consume more fluids than usual. If you are aware of any underlying health concerns, speak to your doctor about the best way to add fluids to your diet.

5) Keep it handy. It’s easier to keep up a routine if it’s within sight. Keep a water glass or bottle handy for more frequent sips throughout the day

6) Make it manageable! Small sips more frequently will equate to more water consumption over time.

7) Cheers! Always include a glass of water with mealtimes and activities.

At Verve Senior Living, we ensure that our residents receive access to all the nutrients they need as part of our Living Loving Local culinary program. We recognize that good food nourishes the body and mind.

Cheers to healthy living!

Expressive art therapy has long been used by art therapists to explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, create self-awareness, foster social skills, reduce anxiety, improve orientation, and increase self-esteem. How? By way of using artistic media and the creative process.

Art as therapy began in the 1970s at the Leslie College Graduate School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and includes art, music, drama, and dance. As part of a treatment strategy for a range of mental health conditions, the benefits of expressive art therapy began to be integrated into senior care.

What is Expressive Art Therapy?

Art therapy is based on the idea that the “creative” right side of our brain is put to work, processes the information, and then sends those outcomes to the “academic” left side of our brain which deals with logic, language, writing and memory. Thus, expressive art therapy benefits memory care patients, including those living with the effects of Alzheimer’s and dementia in numerous ways.

The Benefits of Expressive Art Therapy

The pure act of the creative arts sets the stage for communication and shared experiences. Whether it’s painting or poetry, dance or storytelling, movement, or music, taking part in the process invokes joy within. It is a way for seniors to honour their life stories and can serve to restore their sense of self either by re-discovering a past passion or discovering a new one. Expressive arts also show them they are still capable of creating something beautiful and contributing to the world around them, no matter their age.

Taking part in art therapy can:

• Boost social interaction
• Reduce anxiety
• Provide meaningful stimulation
• Increase self-esteem
• Decrease the need for antipsychotic pharmaceuticals

With every upside, there is inevitably a perceived down, which in the case of expressive art therapy is that the positive results are inextricable. The positive reactions and healing achieved could be from the creative process itself, or the positive interactions with the art therapist and others involved. It is also possible for the emotions that arise during the process, likely unresolved, can cause an increase in anxiety or emotional discomfort.

Does Expressive Arts Therapy Help Memory?

According to “Advances in art therapy for patients with dementia”, a review article from the Department of Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University School of Medicine, the benefits and treatment goals of art therapy for those living with dementia is that:

“The creation of art stimulates the temporal lobe, which affects object recognition and accurate expression using language, and the parietal lobe, which perceives the spatial position of objects and controls fine motor functions of the hand. Additionally, art therapy provides an effective way to train patients in the capacities of language and fine motor movement of the hand, in which the hand-brain interaction helps maintain and develop motor skills and coordination and improves the perception by the brain of colour, shape, space, proportion, etc.”

So, expressive art therapy helps the brain, memory and fine motor skills, in addition to being a non-verbal outlet through which to express emotions. Having that kind of outlet for someone with dementia can make a world of difference in improving quality of life.

The Bottom Line

World Health Organization reports that more than 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, with 10 million new cases every year. The physical, psychological, social and economic effects of this cognitive deterioration don’t just impact the people living with it, but their caregivers and families as well.

Programs such as Verve’s Meet Me at the MoMA and Java Music Club are intended to bring expressive art therapy into our communities across Canada, enriching the lives of our residents on a daily basis. Museum, gallery visits and live entertainment shows are also organized into our communities to encourage socialization — because we firmly believe that everything is better when done together.

Maintaining a healthy weight as we age can get tricky. Our metabolism starts to slow down, meaning how our bodies absorb energy from food changes, so even though we need less food for energy, we do still need to ensure that we’re getting in healthy nutrients.

A lot of different things can affect weight — genetics, gender, lifestyle, culture, sleep, diet, etc. Being conscious of these factors is the first step in managing and adopting a healthy attitude toward weight management. Seniors especially can benefit from weight management because a healthy weight can help lower the risk of chronic ailments such as diabetes and heart disease. Being over or underweight alike can affect our levels of comfort and how we manage throughout the day.

If you’ve begun to notice that you may need to start changing your habits to either maintain or achieve a healthy weight, read on for our tips! 

Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Weight        

What is a healthy weight for one person isn’t necessarily the same for another. Talk with your doctor to determine what your healthy weight is, based on your health history and current conditions.

A few overall healthy aging tips for seniors are:

• Walk regularly! Getting 30 minutes of movement alongside your daily activities is a great way to not only stay active but improve your mood as well.
• Sleep. Getting your ideal number of hours is important to the body’s processes and cognition.
• Regular exercise is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight, especially in the case of weight loss or maintaining muscle mass — something we start to lose as we age! Incorporate some of the movements from our Stretching Exercises for Seniors blog into a healthy routine!
• Eating a balanced diet. Verve Senior Living prides itself on our exceptional culinary program, focused on delivering nutritional and delicious meals. Discover more about your own eating habits through the Dietitians of Canada Nutri-eSCREEN Eating Habits Survey.
• Practice good hydration! Especially as we age, this is an important factor in keeping our joints lubricated and delivering those all-important nutrients to our body’s cells.

The Bottom Line

Healthy aging involves a combination of mind, body, and spirit. Combining a positive attitude with a healthy weight management routine can make all the difference in your success.

Try some of the healthy weight management tips for seniors above, and always remember to talk to your Doctor before making any lifestyle changes. Every day is a new opportunity to take those small steps toward a healthy future.

Download and share this recipe:

Classic Crème Brûlée

To view more Living Loving Local recipes, click here!

Enjoying a pet by your side just makes things better, providing endless entertainment and infinite love. Having a pet has also been known to help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, provide social interaction and physical activity — all good things to keeping the mind and body active and engaged as we age.

Read more on the blog here!