How to Use Music Therapy in Care Homes

Music therapy in care homes has become a well-accepted part of life for many residents. Bringing music into a care environment aims to support emotional wellbeing, social interaction, and cognitive health. Music can stir memories, lift moods, and create a sense of community. It works across generations and abilities, offering a unique and joyful way to connect with those who might struggle to communicate using words alone.

Music therapy involves using music purposefully to support individuals’ health and wellbeing. It can be led by qualified music therapists or by care staff trained to offer musical activities. This guide lays out how music therapy can be safely and effectively used in care homes, focusing on different approaches, preparation, practical tips, and ways to measure its impact.

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is an evidence-based clinical practice. In the UK, HCPC-registered music therapists use musical activities—playing instruments, singing, listening, and movement—to meet therapeutic goals. People living with dementia, learning disabilities, and other conditions often benefit strongly.

Key terms:

• Active music-making: Residents take part in singing or playing instruments.
• Receptive music therapy: Residents listen to music, either live or recorded.
• Music therapist: A health professional qualified to use music for therapeutic purposes.

Music therapy is not simply entertainment. It focuses on individual needs, helping people express themselves, feel valued, and maintain social ties.

Benefits of Music Therapy in Care Homes

The positive effects of music therapy extend to many areas of health and social care. Studies and practice show clear advantages for both residents and staff.

Some common benefits include:

• Reduced agitation, especially for people living with dementia
• Improved mood and reduced signs of depression or anxiety
• Better engagement in group activities
• Encouragement of movement, which supports physical health
• Positive changes in communication, especially where speech is a challenge
• Opportunities for family members and staff to connect with residents

These changes help develop a sense of community and belonging, making the care home feel more like home.

Planning Music Therapy in Care Homes

Setting up a successful music therapy session in a care setting requires thoughtful preparation. Begin by working out what resources you can provide and what goals you hope to achieve.

Questions to guide planning:

• Who will lead the sessions? Is a qualified music therapist available, or will care staff take the lead?
• What musical backgrounds and preferences do residents have?
• Are there any medical or mobility issues that need to be considered?
• How often will sessions run, and for how long?
• Is there a suitable space for group or individual music sessions?

It helps to involve residents in the planning process. You might ask about their favourite songs, the music of their youth, and whether they have played instruments. Residents’ choices should always influence the playlist and activities.

Setting Up the Music Therapy Space

A comfortable and accessible environment supports the success of music therapy. Good lighting, sound, and room to move are all important.

Tips for a positive music therapy space:

• Arrange chairs in a circle for group sessions, but leave room for wheelchairs or walking aids
• Make sure the space is free of obstacles and tripping hazards
• Keep background noise, such as TVs or radios, to a minimum
• Consider sensory needs—some people prefer gentle lighting or quieter music
• Provide water and allow easy access to the toilet

Familiar or decorated surroundings can help residents feel relaxed and safe, encouraging participation.

Types of Music Therapy Activities

Music therapy in care homes takes different forms. Tailor activities to suit individual and group needs.

Group Music Making

Group work encourages social interaction and builds shared experiences. It can involve:

• Singing well-known songs together
• Using percussion instruments such as tambourines, shakers, or drums
• Movement or gentle dance
• Call and response singing

It’s usually best to start with familiar tunes. Folk songs, hymns, or hits from the residents’ youth make good choices.

One-to-One Sessions

For those who are less comfortable in a group, or who have more complex needs, individual sessions work well. A music therapist may use improvisation, play music that is meaningful for the resident, or simply listen to music together to explore memories and feelings.

Music Listening

Not everyone wants to actively make music. Sitting and listening to favourite music can be relaxing and comforting. This can be done alone, in small groups, or as part of relaxation time.

Songwriting

Creating new songs—writing lyrics or simple melodies together—can help residents feel creative and heard. The focus is on the act of creation rather than the final result.

Movement to Music

Encouraging movement, even in small ways, supports physical health and a sense of fun. Clapping, tapping, or swaying in time with music helps residents connect to rhythm and each other.

Choosing Suitable Music

Picking the right type of music is essential for both enjoyment and therapeutic effect. There is no one-size-fits-all answer—personal taste matters. What soothes one person may agitate another. Understanding individual preferences and life histories is key.

Tips for choosing music:

• Ask residents and families about favourites, including songs, genres, or artists
• Think about age, background, and culture—what music was popular during their youth?
• Avoid music linked to difficult memories or lyrics that could be upsetting
• Be open to changes—musical tastes can shift, especially for those living with dementia
• Create a varied playlist, adjusting as residents express their likes and dislikes

Live music brings extra engagement, but recorded music is useful if instruments or musicians aren’t available.

Supporting People with Dementia

Residents living with dementia face communication and memory challenges, but music often remains meaningful. Recognising faces or finding words may become difficult, yet singing along to an old song or tapping a drum can feel natural.

Some people may become emotional or withdrawn at certain music. This is normal, and pausing or switching to a different song often helps. Music familiar from early adult life tends to have the biggest positive impact—the so-called “reminiscence bump”.

Approaches include:

• Using simple rhythms and repetition
• Avoiding sudden loud noises or very fast-paced music
• Watching responses carefully and checking for smiles, eye contact, or even tears
• Respecting when a resident wants to leave or stop the activity

If residents begin to look anxious or distressed, gently change the tempo or move to a quieter activity.

Involving Staff, Families, and Volunteers

Music therapy works best when care home staff, relatives, and volunteers are involved. Staff need not be musical experts—even supporting with enthusiasm and participation makes a difference.

Ways staff and families can contribute:

• Finding out about residents’ musical backgrounds
• Singing along, clapping, or gently moving to music themselves
• Encouraging residents to join in, without forcing participation
• Supporting music sessions by setting up the room or handing out instruments

Families may wish to bring in favourite records, talk about music memories, or join music sessions when visiting.

Using Instruments and Resources

You don’t need expensive or complicated instruments for effective music therapy in care homes. Simple percussion instruments work for most people, even if physical or cognitive ability is limited.

Recommended instruments:

• Hand drums
• Shakers and maracas
• Tambourines
• Xylophones or glockenspiels
• Bells or triangles

For residents with limited movement, touch-activated instruments or soft scarves for waving add sensory enjoyment. Recorded music, portable speakers, and lyric sheets complete your toolkit.

Group leaders should always check instruments for safety and clean them between uses.

Addressing Challenges in Music Therapy

Not everyone feels comfortable with music at first. Some residents may feel self-conscious, anxious, or simply disinterested. Staff can help by modelling warm, relaxed behaviours, joining in, and never forcing participation.

Possible solutions to common challenges:

• If a resident becomes agitated, try softer music or remove them from the group for a while
• Monitor for signs of sensory overload, such as covering ears or turning away
• Offer different ways of taking part, such as listening rather than singing, or using quiet instruments
• Focus on enjoyment, not musical skill or performance

Individual differences matter. Flexibility, patience, and attention to mood changes allow you to adapt activities for the best outcome.

Measuring the Impact of Music Therapy

Tracking the benefits of music therapy helps show its value and secure future support. Simple observation and feedback are often enough.

Ways to measure impact:

• Keeping brief notes after each session about mood, engagement, or any changes in behaviour
• Using wellbeing scales to check for changes before and after sessions
• Asking residents how they felt about the session, in their own words
• Gathering feedback from staff and families

Blogs, newsletters, or informal sharing with families and staff can highlight small victories, helping build interest and support for future sessions.

Staff Training and Support

Any member of care staff can lead basic music activities, especially with some training. Courses and workshops on music in dementia care help with ideas, confidence, and suitable approaches. Bringing in a qualified music therapist from time to time can provide valuable guidance.

Staff should feel supported and encouraged to use music creatively, while respecting residents’ preferences and emotional cues.

Legal and Ethical Points

Care homes have a duty to provide meaningful activity, and music therapy supports this. Personal preferences, confidentiality, and consent are all part of good practice.

Remember to:

• Gain consent from residents or family members for participation
• Protect personal information about musical tastes and health
• Include music activities in care plans

Rights relating to recorded music should also be considered. Performing or playing music in public may require a licence, even in a care home.

Example Session Plan

A typical group session might look like this:

• Welcome and introductions
• Opening song, often a familiar tune to start
• Main activity: singing, playing instruments, or a themed musical quiz
• Short break for refreshments
• Quiet listening or gentle movement to calming music
• Closing song, bringing the group together

Flexibility is key—adapt the structure as needed.

Final Thoughts

Music therapy brings moments of joy, connection, and calm to care homes. Through careful planning, understanding residents’ histories, and adapting activities sensitively, music becomes more than background sound—it forms an important part of caring for the whole person. Staff, families, and residents themselves can all take part, shaping sessions that suit their preferences and abilities. The rewards can be seen in smiles, laughter, and memories awakened by every song.