Listen up

Dr Fiona Costa is an Ambassador for our sister organisation Faith in Later Life. A research fellow at the University of Roehampton, her research explores how listening to music can lift the spirits and impact quality of life for older people

“If I’m feeling lonely, then I will feel less cut off when music is on. It’s like an old friend, just a sense of companionship.”
“When you are not well, it is very soothing, I can get into another world.”

For older people whose lives become increasingly restricted due to frailty, illness and isolation, music can be life-changing.

How can we use music in a way that achieves outcomes such as these? As a first step, we can encourage our older friends and those we care for to simply listen.

But to what music? Does it all have the same effect? Does the choice matter? I would say that the choice matters very much. We all have our own unique musical histories, experiences and preferences. We all like some things and not others. Listening to music that we don’t enjoy will annoy and irritate us, however beautiful someone else might find it. Bach and Mozart, often regarded as the musical equivalent of a ‘super food’ are not going to help someone who hates classical music.

Here are some questions to help you make a playlist with an older person:

What genre of music do you like? What music did you listen to in your teens? Do you have favourite performers, composers, instruments? What hymns or other church music are special to you? What music is associated with important life events (e.g. the first dance at your wedding) or with family? And crucially, what music don’t you like? Making a playlist and listening to it together can elicit memories and conversation and, over time, bring about some of the benefits described above.

As well as listening, it’s good to participate. Perhaps you have an older peoples’ group in your church – try and incorporate some regular singing sessions. If you have a good musician in the congregation, invite them to lead some singing. As above, choose songs that will be familiar to the group: e.g., well-known hymns (these can also be a springboard for discussion); songs from the 1940s or 50s; folksongs. Experiment, and gradually compile a song list that the group likes. If there is no suitable musician, all is not lost. Download the music and sing along together.

These are a few ideas to get started. Music is a gift from God. Let’s try and use it well and see some of the rich blessings that it can bring.

Some practical points:

• Check the volume level

• Listen for 30-45 minutes, no longer

• Make it a regular activity, daily if possible

• Find music players that are simple to operate – e.g. Geemarc Viso Tempo Music Player/Koto Simple Music Player

• If the music elicits painful memories or feelings, remove from the playlist

• Adjust the mood of the music – if anxious or agitated, choose more calming music

• Some will be more responsive to music than others

For more ideas on how to make a playlist, see: www.playlistforlife.org.uk