“Making the Case for Music in Dementia Care”
Join this practical, evidence-informed session on using favorite, personally meaningful music to improve daily life for older adults living with dementia. Attendees will learn the therapeutic value of favorite music and how to use it purposefully to achieve outcomes like calmer transitions, better mealtimes, lifted mood, and smoother sleep. It includes tools and techniques that make integration into care routines simple and safe, and how to evaluate impact with brief, low-burden measures, including cost-effectiveness and return on investment.
Date December 9, 2025
Hosted By WellMed Charitable Foundation
Justin Russo
Justin Russo is the Director of Programming at the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the therapeutic power of music to awaken, stimulate, and heal. In his role, Justin oversees IMNF’s training initiatives, including Best Practices from Music Therapy for Using Music in Senior Wellness and Healthcare and the MUSIC & MEMORY® Certification Program, which trains care professionals to implement personalized music as a non-pharmacological intervention for individuals living with dementia and related conditions. Since 2015, he has supported the Music & Memory program’s growth to over 5,800 certified healthcare organizations worldwide.
“Making the Case for Music in Dementia Care” is a practical, evidence-informed session on using favorite, personally meaningful music to improve daily life for older adults living with dementia. Attendees will learn the therapeutic value of favorite music and how to use it purposefully to achieve outcomes like calmer transitions, better mealtimes, lifted mood, and smoother sleep. It includes tools and techniques that make integration into care routines simple and safe, and how to evaluate impact with brief, low-burden measures, including cost-effectiveness and return on investment.