Does anyone know of an easy way for someone who can't remember how use anything to have a way to turn on music for herself?

I got Mom a music player from the Alzheimer’s store. She only had to flip the lid open and the music plays big band music. You can also load in other music. I put a big arrow on it that said LIFT. It shuts off when it’s closed. Moms aids also knew how to work it for her. It worked really well for her.

https://www.alzstore.com/simple-music-player-dementia-alzheimers-p/2115.htm

What about an Amazon Alexa? You can tell it what music you want to play by speaking a simple command. Maybe AL staff could come in and turn it on for her every morning if she has trouble.

I think there comes a time when ALZ patients don't remember that they can have happiness through their audio sense, so it never occurs to them to turn it on. I gave mthr a radio to use when she first moved to MC. She used it the first night she had it, took notes even in what had become a desperate attempt to keep thoughts in her head, but never used it again. The best thing I can think of is a radio that operates on a timer.

It's SO darn hard when they have no memory. My mother can't for the life of her remember the day of the week. So I bought her an Alz. clock which is very large and bright and displays the day of the week, time of day, date, and whether it's day or night. Well, I call mom and she's asking Oh is today Tuesday when it's Saturday! I say, what does your clock say? And she says Oh I forgot to look at it! UGH.
I can't possibly imagine how you'd get your mom to be able to listen to music unless it was on all the time at a low volume and maybe she'd just have to turn it up or down? Would she know to do that? UGH again. I so hate this disease.

Wishing you the best of luck trying to figure this out. Sometimes no matter WHAT we do it doesn't work.

Is there a TV with a 24 hour music channel?   There was such a tv in my father's room; one of the pastors on staff found the channel for me; it remained on until Dad passed, providing very, very soothing music 24/7, with nary a commercial. 

Radios would also work, especially stations with minimal commercials.

I read in your profile that your mother's in a small AL home; could you make arrangements with the staff or owner, for perhaps a nominal extra amount, to turn on a radio or the tv in the morning, and shut it off at bedtime...or maybe just leave it on all night as the music may soothe anyone else who hears it?

I was just able to get music to start playing on my Amazon Echo from my Android phone. So if you could get an Echo set up for your Mom (it requires wireless), and Amazon Music and the Alexa App on your phone, you should be able to do this from wherever your smartphone is.

You can program and Alexa to do whatever you want 'her' to do. I have 3 in my house and sometimes each one is playing different music.

If I asked her to start playing "Chopin' at 8 am, she would until she was 'told' to play something different at a different time. She wouldn't have to say "Alexa" or even remember the commands. And one set fairly close to mom, but not within her reach could be very workable.

Alexa keeps lists, rings alarms, etc. Your mom wouldn't even have to touch it, And if pre-programmed, she wouldn't have to talk to it.

When you visit, you could change the settings by voice command. So she gets a variety.

I'm NOT a fan of TV, so the Alexa, for me, since I practically live alone (DH travels 3/4 weeks every month) is very soothing and fills the 'empty space'.

My SWEET SIL has HIS Alexa programmed for 'songs for mom' on it. All my faves. The g-kids hate it, but what a sweet gesture on his behalf, right?

I gave up on any tech stuff for my dad. Just not capable anymore. He might be able to learn something in the moment but it’s gone 30 seconds later.

The only thing I’ve found for my dad with dementia is a simple CD player. He can’t make it go but I play his favorite music when I visit and his aides will also turn it on for him.

When finished we put it and the CDs on a high shelf so he can’t lose them or break the player.

His old country music tunes are so calming for him. He can still sing along a little .

There is a site out there that has an old time radio box - you lift the lid and it plays many songs from the 20's to the 50's (Big band) - I will dig up the site name!

I will be attempting to research this during the coming week for my LO.

She also has NO capacity to connect a radio or the ubiquitous non-used TV in her room with any sort of pleasant experience for herself, so whatever could work for her would need to be TOTALLY AUTOMATIC on a timer that I could control myself, preferably from MY HOME (a distance of about 3 miles).

I have some access to some electronic audio technicians- will post if I find anything helpful.

MANY THANKS TO YOU, ArtistDaughter. I’ve been letting this VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT of her care go unaddressed for far too long, in the endless swirl of meeting basic needs. You’ve given me a much appreciated kick start!!!