Why Music, Dance & Movement Are Powerful for All Levels of Care in Senior Living

By Monica B., CEO of FUN at Heyday Activities & Events

I’ve always believed that music is magic. Maybe that’s why everywhere I go, I carry a speaker with me—whether I’m walking into a Memory Care unit, an Assisted Living community, or someone’s living room. To me, music is a mood booster. It reminds me of good times, of who I was with, and what I was doing during those moments in my life. The friendships. The laughter. The dancing in the kitchen. It stays with you.

And what’s most powerful is watching how music has the same effect on the older adults we work with. Their eyes light up when they hear a familiar tune. Feet start tapping. Hands keep the beat on armrests. Sometimes a quiet room turns into a full singalong in minutes.

Music for seniors is so much more than entertainment. It helps reduce anxiety, boosts mood, and brings back memories that seemed long gone. For individuals living with dementia, music becomes a lifeline to moments they can feel even if they can’t explain. I’ve seen nonverbal residents hum entire melodies. I’ve watched tears fall during a favorite love song. I’ve seen heads lift when “their song” starts to play. That connection is real and it's powerful.

What happens next is often even more beautiful. Movement. Sometimes just swaying gently. Sometimes clapping along. Sometimes a full-on dance party. And yes, we’ve had conga lines in Memory Care.

Dance has been part of my life since I can remember, and it is communication without needing words. For those living with dementia or limited mobility, movement to music brings rhythm, coordination, and joy back into the body. Even simple mirroring, waving scarves, or following a familiar dance step wakes something up inside. It taps into muscle memory and creates a sense of flow that feels good.

But not everyone is ready to dance and that’s okay. That’s where adapted movement activities come in. Chair yoga to music, stretch-and-sing routines, balloon volleyball, and parachute play can be just as engaging. These types of movement promote circulation, improve flexibility, and spark laughter. The best part? Everyone can participate in some way, and that inclusion means everything.

When music and movement are used intentionally, they transform a day from routine to remarkable. It doesn’t matter what level of care someone is in Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, or Skilled Nursing, music and movement cut through the noise and connect people at the deepest level.

At Heyday Activities, we don’t just hit play on a playlist. We bring the energy, the laughter, the interaction, the props, the rhythm and the speaker, of course. Because for us, it’s not just a background soundtrack. It’s a tool for communication, expression, and connection. We create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and full of life again.

So if you're looking for meaningful engagement whether you’re a family caregiver, an Activities Director, or part of a senior living team, remember this: music reaches where words cannot. Movement reconnects what routine forgets. And when you put them together, you create moments that matter.

Let’s bring more of that to the table, click here to learn more of what we do!