The power of music

From my experiences in working with people in the early and late stages of dementia, I feel the most powerful and successful way of communicating with them is by music. I have cared for residents with dementia who didn't speak, or spoke extremely rarely, but would sing if music was on. It is astonishing to see people who cannot put sentences together anymore, or make conversation anymore, start singing songs and knowing the words, but it happens.
These are two of my favourite videos that capture the affect music can have on people with dementia.

The home I worked in had regular visits from a singer who came with his banjo and guitar, his performances of songs from the 40s/50s/60s used to light up the faces of residents. We also had visits from choirs at Christmas time and residents would beam when they heard songs like away in a manger. I, and the other staff, ensured we sang and danced with residents every day, even if we were restricted by time, even two minutes of song could make a huge difference to a resident's mood. The most popular songs residents never failed to sing with us were it's a long way to Tipperary and all things bright and beautiful. The songs your loved one liked when they were a teenager, or in their twenties or thirties, are likely to have a more positive affect than songs they may have heard five or ten years before they were diagnosed with the disease.
One of the most heartbreaking things about having a loved one with dementia is the feeling they are slipping away from you, and that you are losing them. I believe strongly music can do things that normal conversation can not and that, even if it's just for two minutes, it can bring out a side of the patient that is often otherwise hidden by the disease.