We continue to discover powerful new applications for Music & Memory’s personal music program. Now there’s evidence-based research that demonstrates how favorite music may ease onset of delirium—a major health risk for older adults during hospitalization that can trigger a cascade of medical complications.

Memphis gerontologist Dr. Mark Hammond considers therapeutic use of music to be an essential part of the delirium-prevention mix. “Any music that is meaningful to the patient, the playlist of the person’s life, connections to childhood or adolescence—bridging neurological pathways can bring the patient back to reality,” he says.

For her doctoral thesis, Dr. Kari Johnson, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, explored that connection between listening to favorite music and delirium prevention for critical care patients at HonorHealth in Scottsdale, Arizona. Here’s what she found. . . Read More