Music reduces stress, anxiety, and pain in seniors
Music is an amazing drug-free way to improve quality of life for older adults. Many studies show the benefits of music. It reduces stress, anxiety, and pain. It also improves immune function, helps memory, and encourages exercise.
To help you find music seniors love, we’ve rounded up dozens of top hits from every generation.
Music reaches those with Alzheimer’s or dementia
Another benefit is that music helps people reminisce and go back and relate to emotions and experiences. That’s why it’s often recommended for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia. It reduces anxiety and agitation and boosts happiness and engagement.
The documentary Alive Inside is a great example of how music can reach people with even very advanced dementia.
Top songs for every generation
In order to get the benefits, it’s important to play music that your senior enjoys and connects with. We’ve got something for every generation, starting with the 1930s for those who are 90 years old and going all the way to the songs 60 year olds will remember from their youth.
Here are some of the top artists and highly rated “best of” albums from each decade. Click the links to see the albums we suggest.
Top hits for 90+ year olds
- 30 #1 Hits of the 30’s
- Hits of 30’s & 40’s
- The Andrews Sisters
- Benny Goodman
- Bing Crosby
- Glenn Miller
- Judy Garland
Top hits for 80+ year olds
- Great Records Of The Decade: 40’s Hits
- Greatest Songs Of The 1940’s
- Dinah Shore
- Doris Day
- Nat King Cole
- Patti Page
- Tony Bennett
Top hits for 70+ year olds
- 50’s Ultimate Rock & Roll Collection
- Chart Toppers: Romantic Hits Of The 50’s
- Connie Francis
- Elvis Presley
- The Everly Brothers
- The Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr.
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Top hits for 60+ year olds
- Pure 60’s: The #1 Hits
- Aretha Franklin – 30 Greatest Hits
- The Beatles
- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
- The Rolling Stones
- Roy Orbison
- Simon & Garfunkel
Top hits: Jazz
Recommended for you:
— Music for Seniors: Improve Health, Mood, and Sleep
— Alive Inside: Movie Shows How Music Helps Dementia
— Stimulate Senior Minds with Books on Tape
By DailyCaring Editorial Team
Image: Homecare California
This article wasn’t sponsored, but does contain affiliate links. We never link to products or services for the sole purpose of making a commission. Recommendations are based on our honest opinions. For more information, see How We Make Money.
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Shelia O'Neal
I am a activities coordinator at my home. We have residents that range in age from 100 98 94 Plus. We have some ages 68 58 54 and so on. We deal with mental illness and dementia and Alzheimer’s.
DailyCaring
Wow! That’s a wide age range to work with. I hope these song suggestions help you find music that suits a variety of tastes!
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tom
i’m an activity director and i use this youtube channel a lot… it’s live piano
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tOG4Sbz2C6s
DailyCaring
Thank you for sharing Tom! These are great tunes 🙂 For anyone who’d like to listen to all the videos on this channel on autoplay, use this link — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZZ2HAtRHNk&list=UU4zSQRo-IzJU8lmnPRewb1Q
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