Canadian Journal of Medicine

Abstract

As life expectancy continues to increase, it is critical to investigate ways to age successfully physically, mentally, and socially. Senior citizens (65 years and older) tend to struggle with lower mental health and wellbeing and suffer higher incidences of loneliness compared to the younger population. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has put them at higher risk, not only of contracting the virus, but also of experiencing feelings of loneliness and depression. Music participation, specifically music therapy, has been known to be an effective tool to promote wellbeing and mental health, especially among the elderly. Thus, this article investigates the changes in mental health and wellbeing among elderly people when participating in music to explore the importance of conducting virtual music participation programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.