If you want to support a loved one with a memory disorder in enjoying the benefits of music, a reliable streaming app makes it easier to find and organize their favorite songs. Below, we'll introduce six free music streaming services to share with your friend or family member in their Autumn View Gardens Creve Coeur memory care apartment.
Spotify is probably one of the best-known free music streaming services. It enables users to access a varied music library of over 100 million songs alongside podcasts and audiobooks without paying a dime, although there's also a paid version available for ad-free listening.
A free Spotify account enables you to create playlists for loved ones with dementia, using nostalgic songs and soundscapes to unlock old memories, reduce stress and even encourage sleep. If you're short on time, you can also access premade playlists designed for people with memory loss.
While Amazon Music is a paid subscription service, you'll automatically have access as one of your member perks if you're an Amazon Prime subscriber. Amazon Prime members can listen to music ad-free, which could be an advantage if your loved one finds interruptions to their playlist upsetting. Like Spotify, its catalog includes over 100 million songs, so you'll likely find music to suit most tastes.
Purchasing an Alexa device allows you to play tracks hands-free through Amazon Music and other music streaming services. For example, you could ask Alexa to play a specific song to calm anxiety via voice commands without diverting attention from your loved one to scroll through your phone. Evidence also shows that voice assistants could help people with dementia by encouraging social interactions and delivering reminders for essential activities, making them great gifts for people living in memory care communities.
The GrandPad is an easy-to-use tablet for seniors, including those with dementia. This nifty device includes a no-frills layout, extra-large buttons and a stylus-style pen to simplify use for people with memory loss or shaky hands. It even includes its own ad-free music streaming service called GrandPad Music.
While you'll need a GrandPad device and subscription to listen, you won't pay extra to access GrandPad Music. The service features curated genre stations across a broad range of musical styles, from show tunes to country and western. Seniors can simply click on their preferred genre to listen to a continuous playlist, and the app offers straightforward pausing and volume control. Therefore, it's an excellent option for seniors with memory loss who want to listen to music independently but struggle to navigate mainstream streaming apps.
If you want your loved one to experience the benefits of streaming but don't know much about their favorite genres or the music of their youth, Pandora could make it easier to find songs they like. This music streaming service uses algorithms to suggest new songs — use it to play some tunes you know the person loves and Pandora offers other options they're likely to enjoy.
The free version enables you to access Pandora's music library with occasional ads, but there are a few limitations. Free users can't create playlists or download tracks to listen to offline, so if you like how the app works, you may want to invest in a paid subscription. Pandora Plus is the most affordable option, enabling ad-free listening and downloads. Meanwhile, a pricier Pandora Premium subscription allows you to create playlists of your loved one's favorites and share them with other caregivers.
Although most people associate YouTube with video content, this popular platform now offers its own music streaming service. YouTube Music lets you stream songs from your web browser or a mobile app, making it compatible with most devices. However, what makes it stand out is its hybrid music/video format — many songs feature a music video or even a live performance, providing a multisensory listening experience ideal for sparking memories and meaningful conversations.
The basic version of YouTube Music is free, although it limits skips when listening to playlists and radio stations and includes advertisements between songs. Subscribing to YouTube Music Premium lets you skip tracks as often as you like, enjoy ad-free streaming and download music for offline listening.
Deezer is a free music streaming service that learns what you like, providing suggestions to help you find new music to suit your loved one's tastes and rediscover long-forgotten favorites. Its handy music recognition tool could be particularly helpful if you notice your friend or family member react positively to a particular song. The app's SongCatcher feature identifies tracks playing in your environment and can even recognize hummed tunes, making it easier to find the right track when your loved one can't remember the name.
Like most streaming apps, Deezer has free and paid tiers. The free plan only allows shuffle mode with limited skips and regular ads. Upgrading to the paid version enables you to skip tracks as often as you like without interruptions from advertisements.
