Use music to relieve anxiety, depression, agitation and pain

• Video Description

  This video shows that regular engagement with music through listening to playlists and taking part in a variety of musical activities, can relieve anxiety, depression and pain. We see several examples of residents dancing and of ‘Drumtastic’.

  This was filmed at Cinnamon Group care homes: Rectory Court, Mornington Court, Leah Lodge and Eden Court.

• Strategies

  • Have a regular listening time for each resident. Use their playlists to help relieve long-term psychological conditions

  • Use particular playlists as a distraction to relieve bouts of anxiety, agitation, sadness or pain

  • Encourage participation through singing and playing, since active engagement in music can have a greater positive effect than just listening

  • Organise regular music-making sessions in groups, since the positive impact of music can be felt more strongly with others through ‘emotional contagion’