Classical. Jazz. Rock ‘n Roll. Pop. There are so many delightful genres of music to choose from to listen to each day. Whether you’re into oldies or popular hits on Top 40 radio stations, music has benefits that can impact your physical, emotional, and cognitive health.
At Southgate at Shrewsbury, we’re constantly welcoming artists and performers to our stage for live music events. Our central location also means that places to enjoy music, such as Symphony Hall, Wang Theater, and Mechanics Hall, all make for wonderful day trip opportunities.
The Physical Benefits of Music
The American Heart Association reported that music can play a role in improving your physical health, specifically having cardiovascular benefits. Those who listen to music daily shared that they experienced less anxiety and chest pain than those who didn’t incorporate music into their routine. This leads experts to believe that music helps to lower blood pressure and improve heart rates.
Listening to music may even inspire you to get your daily amount of exercise. You could take a dance or cardio class and move to the beat of the music, or hear something calm and relaxing as you engage in pilates or yoga.
The Emotional Benefits of Music
Not only is music great for your physical health, but also for your emotional well-being. Music allows us to feel things freely, and connect with the words and instruments almost as if it’s another language.
Music has proven to have a calming effect on people, especially seniors. According to Harvard Health, music therapy can help patients decrease anxiety and reduce stress by listening, learning to play an instrument, or even singing along. The repetition of music can improve your quality of life, and soothe you during times of emotional distress.
The Cognitive Benefits of Music
Seniors benefit greatly from music when it comes to improving their memory and delaying cognitive declines.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, music can evoke memories. When you listen to a song, it may remind you of the time you first heard it. Maybe you were with a loved one or on a vacation. The familiarity of music can make it comforting and allow you to express feelings while associating it with a memory or meaning.
How to Integrate Music Into Your Daily Life
So how do you incorporate music into life every day? It’s easier than you think! Using your phone, mobile device, CD player or radio, you can listen to music while you do everyday tasks such as taking a walk, doing chores around the house, or cooking. Pick your favorite genre or artist and sing along as you knock items off your to-do list!
Southgate offers resident events for seniors to get out and enjoy live music performances either off campus or at our theatre. This summer, we’ve welcomed many local bands to perform at our Summer Concert Series! Additionally, consider taking a day trip to see a musical or concert in the area with family and friends.
At Southgate at Shrewsbury, we encourage all of our residents to enjoy the benefits that music can bring to their lives. Make sure to check our Program Calendar often to see which live music, concerts, or performances we host each month, and invite friends and family to attend with you.