Results from a person-centered music intervention for individuals living with dementia.

Author: Ihara ES1, Tompkins CJ1, Inoue M1, Sonneman S1
Affiliation:
1George Mason University, College of Health and Human Services, Department of Social Work, Fairfax, Virginia, USA.
Conference/Journal: Geriatr Gerontol Int.
Date published: 2018 Nov 20
Other: Special Notes: doi: 10.1111/ggi.13563. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 244


AIM: Dementia is a chronic, costly disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Effective, affordable person-centered interventions are required to improve the lived experiences of individuals with dementia and their caregivers in various care settings. The present study examined the effects of a person-centered music listening intervention on mood, agitation and social engagement for individuals living with dementia.

METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was carried out with participants at five community-based adult day health centers (n = 51). Standardized instruments were used to measure mood and agitation, and in-person and video-recorded observations of participant behavior were used to analyze changes before, during and after the intervention across four domains: mood, agitation, connecting to music and engaging socially. Within-person differences were examined using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and between-group differences were examined using the Mann-Whitney U-test.

RESULTS: Although standardized instruments did not yield statistically significant results, the behavioral observations showed a positive change in mood and a decrease in agitation. From pre- to post-intervention, there were statistically significant increases in joy, eye contact, eye movement, being engaged and talkativeness, and a decrease in sleeping and moving or dancing.

CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral observations show the positive impact a person-centered music listening intervention might have on individuals living with dementia and attending adult day health centers. This affordable intervention provides a useful tool for caregivers that might improve the day-to-day experience of individuals living with dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; ••: ••-••.

© 2018 Japan Geriatrics Society.

KEYWORDS: dementia; music listening; person-centered

PMID: 30460747 DOI: 10.1111/ggi.13563

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