Sound Therapy for Elders
As our population demographic has changed in the last decade to include many more elderly people, it has become important for this group to maintain their health and well-being, in a rapidly changing world. Sound therapy for elders can be a way to bring peacefulness, healing and upliftment to their lives.These days many seniors are physically fit, eating nutritious diets and living much longer but many are also suffering from illness, depression, disability and mobility problems. I have always felt saddened that the older people in this country seem to be treated with less and less respect and love as they get older. In many older cultures and in tribal life, the elders are revered, respected and listened to as they are considered to possess wisdom through their life experience.
The holistic discipline of sound therapy is the perfect medicine for this group as it is gentle, relaxing and reduces pain and stress. It can be tailored to the individual. The therapist provides a gentle sound journey which is nurturing and helps the client to feel held in a very warm atmosphere of loving energy and care without the need for physical touch, which may be difficult for some to receive. Even if the client has hearing problems the sound vibrations will still do their work rebalancing and releasing dense energy. In some cases, tinnitus symptoms will be reduced.
As the older section of the population gets larger and larger it is vital that they utilise preventative medicine as otherwise, the numbers of infirm will overwhelm a national health service already in crisis. It is good to see that more holistic therapies are being offered in residential homes and hospices but perhaps more can be done to promote these to the general ageing population.
Dementia, Alzheimers and the aftereffects of stroke are conditions that can be helped by sound therapy for elders. The sound vibrations help to form new neural pathways in the brain and also to balance and enhance connections between the right and left sides of the brain. This is currently being researched by members of the College of Sound Healing at Newcastle University.
Sound therapy is being introduced to the NHS. At the Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, Wales, around 30 volunteers and musicians have been working on the Soundscape project. Participants use their voices and instruments such as gongs and Tibetan singing bowls to create therapeutic sounds for patients. This is a wonderful project and I would love to see more of these group sound experiences being introduced to hospital settings.
I would like to give all senior clients a warm welcome to come for sound therapy treatments at my treatment room in Plumpton, East Sussex. I am also available to give group sound baths in residential homes in the local area.