Discover music as a powerful point of connection
And why sharing it with someone you love matters more than you think
You know that feeling... a song comes on and suddenly you're somewhere else. Windows down on a summer drive, dancing at a wedding, sitting in a car outside a house you used to live in. Music doesn't just remind us of moments, it takes us back and we feel it.
That's more than nostalgia, it's music activating unique parts of our brain.
For people living with dementia, music can reach beyond cognitive barriers in ways that little else can. It unlocks memories, restores a sense of self, and cuts through feelings of isolation. Research has shown music can help improve thinking, concentration and memory recall. And all you need is a playlist and someone to share it with.
Music is how generations connect with each other
Think about the last time you really connected with an older person in your life, and not a quick check-in by text, but a real moment. Chances are, something specific brought you there. A story, a holiday event, a shared dinner, a song.
Music has a way of creating common links across generations. A song your Nona danced to in her twenties might be grounded in something you listened to last week. A road trip playlist you build together could be the start of many stories you've never heard.
The StillMe movement is inviting everyone in Calgary and surrounding areas to lean into music as a powerful point of connection with the seniors in our lives. Not because we ‘should’ spend time together, but because we think you’ll actually have a fantastic time, and you'll be sharing it with someone who matters.
Here's how to make it happen
It doesn't have to be complicated at all. Here are some ideas to get started:
- Create a playlist together, a mix of old and new, theirs and yours. See what overlaps and just might surprise you both.
- Take a drive and take turns picking songs. Let the conversation follow wherever the music leads.
- Add a song to the StillMe community playlist. We're building one right now with our community… one song at a time.
- Listen to the StillMe playlist here on Spotify!
- Download favourite tunes or songs you haven’t heard in years.
- Search YouTube for a fun playlist (try searching ‘oldies’ or those legendary artists you love).
- Dust off old record and cassette players and bring them back into the mix.
- Bust out the dance moves when inspiration strikes!
We hope you have fun.
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