Barrie Anderson's wife Grace is living through the final stages of dementia, but her eyes still light up when he plays her music.
Music, he says, touches her soul and gives them invaluable "Eureka" moments when they can reminisce and perhaps think about their earlier lives.
He's also noticed that his wife of 64 years will respond more readily to his singing voice than to his spoken voice.
But he has told the royal commission into aged care that music isn't sufficiently recognised for the good it can do, how it can enhance people's lives.
"I think it's important in terms of not only Grace's wellbeing but mine," he said.
"There should be greater emphasis on music in terms of its therapeutic benefits."
Mr Anderson, 86, provided his intensely personal story of caring for his 85-year-old wife at the commission hearings in Adelaide on Thursday.
He said she's now entering a stage of palliative care, but he continues to do all he can to make the "dignity of her last days significant".
He's also called for all aged care workers to receive some specialist training for dealing with dementia patients because of their unique requirements.
"There's a difference between aged care and dementia care," he said.
"The system at the moment seems to be directed to the lower end of the scale.
"I think the treatment of dementia requires very special skills which don't necessarily apply for straight aged care."
Mr Anderson said in an ideal world dementia patients would be able to have one-on-one support.
Regardless, staffing levels need to be increased, he said, with more full-time staff and less reliance on agency workers.
"It's absolutely critical. That's an area that needs to be improved greatly," he said.
