Connection, Comfort & Joy: The Power of Music in Care

At Home Instead Epping Forest, we’ve long known that music  can  be a lifeline for our clients, a bridge to memory, and a powerful tool in delivering compassionate, person-centred care. Whether it’s tapping along to a wartime favourite or sharing a quiet moment with a client through a famil iar tune, music helps us connect in a way words sometimes can’t.

These aren’t just abstract benefits – we see them daily. Music lifts moods, encourages engagement, and often brings out smiles, movement, and even laughter in ways few other tools can. It’s a way to reach the person inside, particularly for clients living with dementia.

Training Our Team in Music Therapy

To deepen our use of music in care, we offer our Care Professionals the opportunity to complete a specialist Music Therapy course through Music Helps (UK). This interactive, online training consists of five insightful chapters:

1. Your relationship with music

2. Focusing on dementia

3. Using music with someone living with dementia

4. Musical techniques

5. Putting learning into practice

Our team is encouraged to take this course as part of their paid professional development. 

We’ve seen how this training empowers our staff to use music with greater confidence and creativity, whether creating personalised playlists, singing with clients, or using rhythm to prompt memory recall.

“I really enjoyed the course it gave me lots of tips and ideas to use now in the future when visiting my clients”   

– Adele

We recently asked some of our Memory Café guests and Care Professionals how music makes them feel. Here’s what they had to say:

“We have attended many Singing for the Brain Groups, my husband finds it beneficial, he always joins in with the singing and dancing and puts him in a better mood. It is also good for me. Singing along to old-time songs, with all the old memories is most enjoyable. Thank you to all for making life a little more bearable.”
— David and Audrie – Clients

“Music makes Robin feel tremendous and gives a great feeling to the afternoon. In general, music makes Robin want to move and makes him feel good.”
— Lesley and Robin – Clients

“I couldn’t live without this – it keeps me going.”
— Joan – Community Attendee

“Music can be so relaxing, it takes away all our worries and problems, it can be soothing and restful.”
— Barrie – Community Attendee

“I take Bernadette to most of our singing and dancing clubs. Bernadette says she thoroughly enjoys coming and recognises so many regulars, making friends. She always joins in and loves to dance. When I take her home, she is always on a high and says she has had a lovely afternoon.”
— Theresa – Care Professional

“Stephen said he really enjoys coming to the Groups and making new friends. He enjoys having a dance and singing to the music – it makes him feel happy. He has lots of fun and everyone is lovely.”
— Nicola – Care Professional, with Client Stephen

“Music encourages me to sing – singing is my life. I sing whenever I can. It makes me happy, relaxes me, and helps me escape my health issues.”
— Catherine – Community Attendee

“Music can make me feel happy and sometimes sad – but I couldn’t live without it.”
— Anne – Care Professional

Whether it’s toe-tapping, a shared smile, or a chorus of voices rising together, it’s clear music touches something deep and lasting in each of us.