Over the last many years therapists have used, and found increasingly effective, music therapy for Alzheimer's sufferers. With the ongoing stages of dementia, many elderly find the slow decent into memory loss and the difficulty to perform simple tasks that they are certain were at one time second nature, a surmounting frustration. Family members feel helpless in their ability to keep the one they love from 'slipping away' or helping them with their struggles and exasperation, loneliness and depression.

These emotions can then lead to anger and aggression on the part of the dementia sufferer. They don't even completely understand why they are frustrated and angry and this only serves to make matters worse. Friends and family want to reassure them and be helpful, but loss of memory leads to feelings of fear, feeling criticized and distrusting of everyone. The spiral can be lengthy in time and become hurtful to so very many people, negatively affecting relationships and the happy equilibrium that keeps a family happy.

Occupational and music therapists have discovered, however, that we all have a 'music memory' that seems to function even with dementia. The elderly that suffer from this disease can find a much needed respite with music when it stimulates this memory and can suddenly seems as familiar as the faces around them used to be.

Couple the familiar tunes with words that come rushing back in no time and you'll see the smiles return to the one that has finally found pleasure again. Later stage Alzheimer's and dementia patients, that may seem almost catatonic at this point, have been known to display signs of awareness and in some manner show 'life' when familiar music and songs were played.

Long term care facilities such as nursing homes and convalescent homes have found very positive results with music for the elderly and sing-alongs for patients. Activity directors, therapists and nurses are pleased to find some Alzheimer's patients respond to the therapy. Therapists use music instruments and sing-alongs as tools to effectively communicate with the elderly that struggle with this.

For some very advanced stage dementia sufferers, the familiar songs and music can still prove to give some pleasurable enjoyment and they will tap their feet or twitch their fingers to the music. Those able to sing along find relief with sing along videos and enjoyed group sing-alongs in their care facilities.

Although music for Alzheimer's has been around for many years, it is still in some ways being tested for its effectiveness on Alzheimer's. But even friends and loved ones can use music tunes and song as music therapy for their dementia sufferer at home.