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Music Therapy for People Living with Dementia in Sydney

I provide music therapy for people living with dementia, and other older adults, across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Sessions use familiar and meaningful music in a structured, evidence-informed way to support mood, communication, connection and meaningful social engagement, cognitive skills and quality of life – especially for people who are living at home.

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On this page, I explain:

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  • how music therapy can support people living with dementia

  • what sessions can look like at home or in aged-care settings

  • how I involve family members and care partners

  • how this can fit with My Aged Care, Home Care Packages or private funding

  • how to get started

How can music therapy support people living with dementia?

For people living with dementia, music therapy can:

  • Support mood and reduce distress

    • offering comfort, enjoyment and familiarity

    • helping to reduce feelings of anxiety, maintaining mood, and reduce agitation for some people

  • Enhance connection and communication

    • using familiar songs to support communication and maintaining language skills

    • creating shared moments with family members and sustaining meaningful relationships through music

    • supporting non-verbal communication through musical interactions, gestures and facial expressions

  • Stimulate memory and identity

    • Invoking memories linked to meaningful songs, places, or life events

    • connecting to one's culture through music

    • supporting a sense of self and personal history (“this is my music”)

    • creating opportunities for reminiscence in a safe, supported way

  • Support cognitive and thinking skills

    • using rhythm and melody to support attention and focus

    • practising sequencing and planning through musical patterns and routines

    • supporting memory and recall using familiar songs and repetition

    • encouraging flexible thinking and new responses within the safety of music

  • Support movement and daily functioning

    • using rhythm to support walking, coordination and body awareness

    • encouraging gentle movement or dancing where appropriate

    • writing functional songs about daily tasks

  • Provide moments of joy and meaning

    • creating enjoyable experiences in the present moment

    • offering something to look forward to in the week

    • supporting both the person living with dementia and their care partner

 

Music therapy does not cure dementia, but it can play a very practical role in supporting day-to-day wellbeing, relationships and independence, as well as maintaining functional skills.

What can a music therapy session look like?

A music therapy session for an older adult or person living with dementia is designed to be familiar, flexible and respectful of the person’s energy and preferences.

 

A session might include:

  • listening to familiar music together and talking about memories it brings up

  • singing, humming, improvising vocally, or playing along on accessible instruments

  • rhythmic activities to support walking, coordination, movement, and self-expression

  • gentle music-based relaxation to support regulation

  • accessible songwriting

  • building meaningful playlists for different moods/themes

  • exploring accessible and user-friendly music technology

  • shared musical experiences with family members or carers

 

I bring a range of instruments (for example, guitar, small percussion, simple melodic instruments) and adjust the session to suit how the person is on the day – some days will be more active and engaged, others quieter and more receptive.

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For a general overview of what usually happens in a music therapy session, you can also read the What to expect page.

Supporting family members and care partners

Dementia can affect the whole family. I aim to support care partners as well as the person living with dementia.

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Depending on what you prefer, music therapy can:

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  • include family members or carers in the session

  • offer simple musical ideas you can try to support every-day tasks

  • provide a space to share what is working well, and what is challenging

  • offer a moment of connection that is different to everyday “care tasks”

 

Even one or two extra tools – such as building a customised playlist to support regulation, or a simple musical cue for transitions – can make a meaningful difference at home.

How does funding work for older adults and dementia?

There are several ways people living with dementia and older adults can access music therapy:

  • My Aged Care – Home Care Packages / Support at Home
    If you receive support at home through My Aged Care, it may be possible to include individual music therapy with a Registered Music Therapist as part of your allied health and therapy supports, when it aligns with your goals and your provider agrees.

  • NDIS (younger-onset dementia or long-term disability)
    Some people with younger-onset dementia or other disability receive funding through the NDIS. In these cases, music therapy is usually funded under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living.

  • Private, self-funded sessions
    Some families choose to pay privately, either while funding is being arranged, or because they prefer to organise services directly.

 

For more detail and practical steps (including how to talk to your care manager), please visit:

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Where I work with older adults and people living with dementia

Resonance Music Therapy is a mobile practice, supporting older adults and people living with dementia across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

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I offer:

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  • one-on-one sessions in the person’s home

  • sessions in retirement villages or community housing (by arrangement)

  • sessions in residential aged care homes (by arrangement with the facility)

  • online sessions where suitable, and if needed, alongside a family member or carer

How long and how often are sessions?

Individual music therapy sessions are 60 minutes in length.

In most cases, I recommend weekly sessions, at least to begin with. Meeting weekly helps to:

  • build trust and familiarity

  • create a predictable routine

  • allow changes and benefits to build over time

How to get started

If you are supporting an older adult or a person living with dementia and would like to explore music therapy:

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  1. Make contact
    Call 0498 467 379 or use the contact form on this website.

  2. Brief phone conversation
    We can talk about the person’s history, current strengths and challenges, living situation, existing supports and any funding (for example, My Aged Care, NDIS or private).

  3. Plan an initial session
    If it seems like a good fit, we will book an initial 60-minute session at home (or another agreed location) and discuss a plan for ongoing sessions.

 

If you are unsure whether music therapy is the right option, you are still very welcome to get in touch. A short conversation can often make the next step clearer.

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