Art and music bring a lot of beauty and joy into our lives. At a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), those things can be particularly welcome. Whether residents are frustrated with their increasing loss of mobility or cognitive abilities, they would likely welcome the added dose of happiness that music and art can introduce.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) even recommends art and music therapy as a way to promote healthy aging. The NIA says it can help to improve self-esteem, cognitive function, and social interaction while reducing stress and unwelcome behavioral symptoms.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at music and art therapy and how these forms of care and self-expression can boost wellness at your RCFE.
Art Therapy and its Benefits
Aging often makes communication harder. With cognitive decline, some of your residents might have a more difficult time expressing what they think and feel.
Art therapy gives them a way to navigate around that. By creating art, they get a mode of self-expression that doesn’t hinge on words or their brain’s ability to sort out ideas as they speak. As a result, it can be a useful tool in helping your residents feel better able to communicate, more in-tune with their feelings, and an overall improved sense of wellness.
As one study concluded, “AT [art therapy] can boost their self-esteem and provide them with opportunities to develop previously unexplored aspects of their identities.” In fact, that study’s author took things a step further. “When coupled with rigorous methodology for the assessment of outcomes, [art therapy] can provide new advancements for the delivery of measures to delay early cognitive deterioration, depression, and social isolation in older adults.”
Music Therapy and its Benefits
Similarly, implementing music can go a long way toward helping your residents enjoy their lives. That can mean having them sing or play instruments, but it could also or alternatively encompass receptive music therapy. That means mindfully listening to music.
One study noted that music therapy is a drug-free option. “Music therapy has the potential to improve health and quality of life in the elderly and also foster the amelioration of various chronic illnesses, such as depression,” that study’s author said.
A meta-analysis of 67 studies that looked at music intervention for older adults found positive outcomes in the vast majority. It identified five health benefits of music therapy:
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- Psychological well-being
- Cognitive functioning
- Physiological responses
- Quality of life
- Overall well-being
Furthermore, it noted that several studies measured improvement in older adults’ behavioral symptoms, physical performance, sleep, pain, and dietary problems.
Creating a Safer, Healthier, and Cheaper-To-Insure Environment
In short, a lot of data backs up the physical and mental health benefits of art and music therapy for RCFE residents. If you’re interested in exploring this for your own facility, a licensed art or music therapist is a great place to start. If that route is cost-prohibitive, finding an art or music teacher is also a solid option.
Then, you might schedule art and music therapy sessions on a regular basis (e.g., weekly). Making musical instruments and art supplies continually available to your residents can help them reap further benefits.
As you implement art and music therapy, you take measurable steps to improve the wellbeing and lower the stress of your residents. Because this can help to alleviate behavioral issues and mental health challenges, it could, in turn, lower the cost of your RCFE general liability insurance.
To explore how this measure can potentially lower your insurance costs, contact our team at InsureMyRCFE at (805) 413-5668.