Discovery Village Farmington

The Benefits of Music in Senior Living Communities Like Farmington

Written by Discovery Village At Farmington | Nov 3, 2025 5:00:00 AM

Common benefits of music for seniors include stress relief, enhanced memory, and social connection. Experiencing these benefits of live music in assisted living may improve your quality of life in Farmington, CT.

According to UCLA Health, playing an instrument, singing, or listening to music may enhance your brain health. Music could improve brain function and mental well-being, especially in older adults. These are only a few benefits of music for seniors in assisted living.

Music therapy is becoming more common in treatment plans for patients with depression, dementia, and memory loss. It could enhance your overall health, improving your quality of life in Farmington, CT. Read on to learn more about the benefits of piano in senior communities! 

What Is Music Therapy?

Music therapy can involve:

  • Listening to music
  • Meditating
  • Playing an instrument
  • Moving to music
  • Singing along to music

These practices use sound to improve our physical and emotional well-being. Sessions are usually one-on-one with a trained practitioner. 

Why Is Music So Important to Life?

Music can impact your mental and physical health. It may encourage social connections and influence your cultural identity. Music strengthens social bonds through shared experiences and self-expression. 

Otherwise, social isolation and loneliness may cause your health to decline by increasing your risk of:

  • Cognitive decline
  • Depression
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Anxiety
  • High blood pressure
  • A weakened immune system
  • Heart disease
  • Obesity

Engaging in meaningful activities with other seniors may improve your mood and give you a sense of purpose in life.This could extend your longevity. To spend more time with other seniors in Farmington, consider listening to live music in assisted living communities.

The Benefits of Music for Seniors

According to the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging, 98% of adults ages 50 to 80 experience health-related benefits of music. These include:

  • Stress relief and relaxation (75%)
  • Joy (73%)
  • Improved mental health, mood, or attitude (65%)
  • Helps recall life events or memories (61%)
  • Motivates or energizes (60%)
  • Triggers spiritual or religious connections (36%)
  • Keeps the mind sharp (31%)
  • Connects seniors with their peers (27%)
  • Reduces pain (7%)

Here are a few specific ways music can enhance your Farmington, CT, senior living.

Emotional Wellness for Seniors

Listening to piano in senior communities may help improve your mood and ability to regulate emotions. According to one study, the emotional benefits of listening to music include:

  • Protection against stress
  • Protection against depression
  • Support following bereavement
  • Gaining a sense of purpose
  • Positive feelings
  • Confidence and opportunities for creativity

Music may help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. According to this study, the body releases less cortisol (the stress hormone) as you listen to music.

Memory Care Engagement

Listening to music can stimulate the brain and enhance your ability to memorize information. Though it doesn't reverse memory loss in Alzheimer's patients, it may help slow cognitive decline.

Music therapy may help treat mental illness by triggering the release of neurochemicals, including:

  • Dopamine (associated with pleasure)
  • Cortisol (associated with stress)
  • Oxytocin (which fosters the ability to connect with others)
  • Serotonin (related to immunity)

You can find more memory care engagement opportunities through your senior living community. 

Socialization

Music can foster feelings of social connectedness. Examples of music uniting people include:

  • Hymns in houses of worship
  • National anthems at sporting events
  • Protest songs during marches
  • Lullabies encourage emotional attachments between parents and infants
  • Love songs connect prospective partners during courtship

Explore your senior living community's events and activities calendar. You can find fun opportunities to socialize with other seniors in Farmington. 

Can Music Heal the Body?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, music therapy may help:

  • Reduce anxiety or depression
  • Foster relaxation
  • Encourage you to explore your emotions
  • Regulate your mood
  • Strengthen communication skills
  • Ease stress levels
  • Bolster self-confidence
  • Strengthen social skills
  • Improve speaking and language skills
  • Reduce perceived levels of pain
  • Improve motor function and movement
  • Improve your quality of life

However, the benefits you experience may depend on your health condition or symptoms. Consult a music therapist to manage your expectations. Music therapy may benefit patients with:

  • Cancer
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Dementia
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Mood disorders
  • Stroke
  • Autism spectrum disorders
  • Pain (acute and chronic)

Music may encourage you to move while altering your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. This may help you stay physically active as you age.

To further improve your physical health, explore your senior living community's fitness program. You can engage in fun activities to get your heart pumping, which can benefit your physical and mental health. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens to Your Brain When You Listen to Music?

Listening to music may:

  • Trigger the release of dopamine (causing pleasure)
  • Activate the limbic system (causing an emotional response)
  • Trigger a sense of anticipation
  • Activate memory regions in the brain (triggering the recall of memories associated with a specific song)
  • Improve your concentration, focus, and memory
  • Activate the motor cortex
  • Reduce stress and anxiety

Is It Healthy to Listen to Music All Day?

Listening to music all day may help increase focus and motivation. However, it depends on the individual and the type of music. Types of music that tend to work better include:

  • Instrumental or familiar music when studying
  • Soft, fast music when learning
  • Upbeat music with a higher tempo when you're completing tasks that require movement or motivation

The World Health Organization recommends a sound allowance for weekly music exposure based on loudness. You can safely listen to a sound level of 80dB for up to 40 hours a week. When the sound level is 90dB, reduce your listening time to four hours a week.

When listening to live music:

  • Consider wearing ear protectors
  • Stay away from loudspeakers
  • Limit time spent engaged in noisy activities
  • Monitor sound levels
  • Heed the warning signs of hearing loss

Enjoy Live Music in Assisted Living

The benefits of music can enhance your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Remember, you can find fun opportunities to enjoy music therapy through your assisted living community in Farmington, CT.

Look no further than Discovery Village Farmington, where we combine the comfort of home with the ease of resort-style living. Our six exclusive lifestyle programs can enhance your stress-free, fun-filled way of life.

Enjoy friendly table service through Sensations Dining, engaging fitness classes like dance through Dimensions Health & Fitness, and fun through Celebrations Activities & Events like the mahjong club. Contact us now to schedule your tour.