Music and Memory Junction
Login

About Us

Dr. Paul Merkley, a renowned musicologist with a Ph.D. in musicology, and Dr. Namrata Bagaria, a forward-thinking physician with deep expertise in digital transformation and healthy aging, co-founded Music and Memory Junction.

Together, they bring a unique blend of academic depth and innovative delivery, creating accessible, high-quality music appreciation programs tailored for seniors in independent living and care settings.

At Seniors Junction, we’re not just offering content—we’re building a movement to make music a lifestyle for aging well.

🌟 Our Vision

At Music and Memory Junction, we envision a world where every older adult has regular access to meaningful, music-based experiences that spark joy, connection, and memory—no matter where they live or who supports them.

We believe that nostalgia is not a retreat into the past, but a bridge to the present—a powerful tool for emotional wellness, social connection, and identity. Through carefully curated playlists, conversation guides, and creative learning materials, we help older adults reconnect with cherished memories and rediscover their sense of self.

Our vision is to make music appreciation a seamless, preventive, and enriching part of senior care, empowering activity professionals with high-quality, ready-to-use tools that require minimal prep but deliver lasting impact.

Long term, we aim to integrate music-based engagement—rooted in the healing power of nostalgia—into the core of aging and wellness models, including Medicare Advantage and health-focused partnerships, making music not just an activity, but a standard of care for healthy aging.

🔬 The Research Behind Music and Memory Junction’s Approach

Built on Science. Designed for Real Life.

At Music and Memory Junction, our music appreciation program is grounded in evidence-based research from music cognition, gerontology, and healthy aging. This isn’t just entertainment—it’s a strategic tool to support cognitive vitality, emotional wellness, and social connection in older adults.

Our program is co-developed by:

  • Dr. Paul Merkley, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Musicology, who brings decades of expertise on music and brain health

  • Dr. Namrata Bagaria, MBBS, MPH, PhD (c), a physician and public health innovator with expertise in aging, wellness, and digital engagement

Together—with input from psychologists, caregivers, and senior living professionals—we’ve created a research-informed, real-world-ready program that bridges academic insight with practical care.

Studies show that engaging with music—especially through listening, discussion, and learning—can:

  • Stimulate memory and delay cognitive decline

  • Alleviate loneliness and isolation

  • Strengthen identity, meaning, and joy

That’s why our tools are ready-to-use and designed for care teams and companions—requiring minimal prep while delivering deep, lasting impact.

At Seniors Junction, music becomes more than an activity. It becomes a proven, enriching pathway to healthy aging.

📚 Literature Review

The Science of Lifelong Learning and Well-Being Explore a curated collection of scholarly research and academic insights that highlight the transformative power of lifelong learning, especially in later life. This literature review brings together key studies across fields such as gerontology, education, neuroscience, and music cognition—revealing how continued intellectual engagement supports cognitive health, emotional resilience, and social connection in aging populations. Whether you're a practitioner, researcher, or policymaker, these works provide a strong foundation for understanding how continuous learning—especially through music—can enrich the lives of older adults and promote healthy, purposeful aging.

📊 Results from Our Pilot Program

Real Impact. Meaningful Engagement. In the summer of 2022, Music and Memory Junction launched a successful pilot program at Perley Health in Ottawa, engaging older adults in structured music appreciation sessions. The pilot revealed valuable insights and demonstrated the transformative potential of music-based lifelong learning. Participants reported increased mental stimulation, a renewed sense of connection, and greater emotional well-being. These findings affirmed that our approach—rooted in music, conversation, and shared discovery—can enhance quality of life and support healthy aging. This pilot laid the foundation for our current offerings and continues to guide how we shape accessible, enriching programs for activity professionals and the seniors they support.

🎓 Our Pedagogy

Where Nostalgia Meets Discovery At Music and Memory Junction, we embrace a unique pedagogical approach that combines the comfort of nostalgia, the curiosity sparked by novelty, and the connection found in community. By blending familiar musical memories with new learning experiences, we create a harmonious learning environment that is both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating. This balance of tradition and innovation fosters meaningful engagement, encouraging older adults to stay curious, connected, and mentally active. Our method isn't just about listening—it's about reflecting, sharing, and growing together through music.