Music as Therapy: Emotional Well-being and Mental Health for the Elderly in Colombia

Published on: 24 July 2025

As part of the Memorias de Vida program, Fundación Quintana, the Colombian subsidiary of the Sodhi Foundation, implemented a Music Introduction Workshop for 60 older adults in La Cruzada, a rural district in Remedios, Antioquia. This initiative integrates music, health, and emotional well-being, demonstrating how artistic practices can enhance community mental health through accessible and culturally relevant strategies.

Music and Health: A Holistic Experience

The workshop was designed using a playful, adaptive methodology that responded to the abilities of the participants. It included musical activities such as clapping, footwork, chair games, flute exercises, and conscious breathing. These techniques not only facilitated musical learning but also promoted physical and cognitive stimulation.

Rooted in sensory stimulation and neuroplasticity, the sessions activated memory, emotion, and movement, reinforcing the body-mind connection. Such interventions help maintain motor skills, improve coordination, and offer practical tools for everyday life, like breathing techniques.

Art as a Therapeutic Tool

The Memorias de Vida program recognizes the transformative potential of art as an alternative therapy to foster well-being. In rural communities where access to mental health services is limited, these strategies become effective means of psychosocial support and self-esteem enhancement.

Through community-based engagement, Fundación Quintana empowers elderly to experience meaningful learning processes, where music serves not just as entertainment but as a catalyst for emotions, memories, and human connection.

A Commitment to Community Mental Health

Sodhi Foundation continues to advance its global commitment to mental health by supporting interventions that promote comprehensive well-being through innovative and sustainable approaches. As shown in this Colombian experience, music is a powerful path to healing, reconnection, and community building.

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