The Sound of Connection: Creating Meaningful Moments This Mother’s Day

How music, sound, and shared experiences support connection on the dementia journey

At Artis Senior Living, our Power of Play programming shows that connection is something we experience through many senses, moments, and forms of togetherness. This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating one of the most gentle and meaningful ways to connect: sound.

Why Sound Supports Connection in Dementia Care

Sound has a unique way of engaging the brain and body – especially for individuals living with dementia.

Research in music therapy for dementia shows that music and auditory stimulation can:

Support emotional engagement and mood

Reduce stress and agitation

Encourage presence and attentiveness

Strengthen connection between individuals and their loved ones

A growing body of evidence, including findings published via the National Institutes of Health (NIH), suggests that music activates multiple areas of the brain, including those tied to memory, emotion, and movement, even as cognitive changes occur.

This is why familiar sounds – like music, rhythm, or gentle chimes – can spark recognition, comfort, and connection in ways that feel natural and accessible. While sound doesn’t replace conversation, it expands the ways we connect.

Introducing The Mother’s Day Sound Connection Studio, Mother’s Day at Artis

This Mother’s Day, Artis communities are hosting a special Power of Play signature event. Families and residents will come together to create unique wind chimes, sharing a moment that feels creative, sensory, and calming.

Together, families will explore materials, assemble them side by side, and pause to listen to the gentle sounds they’ve created. It’s a shared experience that invites connection in a natural, unforced way – one that feels easy to try, together.

“There’s something powerful about making art with someone you love. Research shows that shared creative programs can strengthen emotional bonds, encourage engagement, and support a sense of purpose and joy. What matters isn’t perfection – it’s participation. A small act, done together, can carry meaning far beyond the moment itself.”
– Brenda Richy, Artis National Director Community Integration & Engagement

Why Shared Creative Programs Matter

Engaging in creative, hands-on experiences – like making wind chimes – supports connection in meaningful ways. Studies show that co-creative programs in dementia care can:

Increase engagement and participation

Strengthen emotional connection between loved ones

Provide a sense of accomplishment and identity

Encourage moments of joy and self-expression

Try This at Home: A Simple Wind Chime Activity

You can bring this experience into your own home in a simple, meaningful way – especially when looking for Mother’s Day programs for seniors with dementia.

What You’ll Need

String or twine

Lightweight objects (keys, shells, beads, wooden sticks, clay beads, plastic bottle caps)

A found stick, or hoop you can order

How to Do It
Sit together and explore the materials at a comfortable pace. Choose pieces that feel interesting or familiar – this can be a timely moment to share stories, or simply enjoy the textures and sounds. Assemble your wind chime together and hang it somewhere you’ll both be able to hear it.

Keep It Simple
Focus on the experience, not the outcome. Let it be collaborative in whatever way feels natural. Whether you’re talking, laughing, or simply sitting side by side, the connection is already there.

Celebrating Mother’s Day Through Connection

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the relationship you share – through moments big and small.

At Artis Senior Living, we support connection through:

Life enrichment programming rooted in engagement and play

Culinary experiences that bring comfort, familiarity, and joy

Daily care support grounded in presence, dignity, and relationship-building

Connection is about showing up, sharing time, and creating moments that feel intentional – all together.