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[P4–321]: REMINISCENCE THERAPY EFFECTS IN OLDER PERSONS WITH MILD DEMENTIA
Author(s) -
Lopes Teresa Silveira
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2017.06.2191
Subject(s) - anxiety , geriatric depression scale , reminiscence , depression (economics) , psychology , dementia , clinical psychology , cognition , psychological intervention , intervention (counseling) , medicine , gerontology , psychiatry , depressive symptoms , disease , economics , cognitive psychology , macroeconomics
experiences. Our innovative study provided a means for individuals with dementia to express how they experienced music therapist-led group singing in a residential care home. The guiding research question was: What is the experience of music therapist-led group singing for individuals with dementia living in a residential care facility? Methods: Six male residents, diagnosed with moderate to advanced dementia and ranging in age from 78 to 92 years, participated in six 30-minute group singing sessions facilitated by a music therapist who also played the piano. Repertoire incorporated familiar folk, pop, country and hymn selections. Sources of data included observation, field notes, video recording, and individual interviews (fully recorded and transcribed), which were analyzed using an adapted observational checklist (Davidson & Fedele, 2011) and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (Smith & Osborn, 2003). Results: The analysis process produced six themes that described three aspects of the singers’ experience of group singing: (1) how they experienced themselves (Self as Performer, Self as Part of a Group); (2) how they experienced the music (Live Music is Special; Music is a Gift); and (3) how they experienced dementia and music (Gaps in Time, Memory and Ability; The Music Is Still There). During post-singing session interviews, participants were able to express a range of feelings (e.g., joy, pride, pleasure, relaxation), despite verbal limitations. Conclusions:Conclusions included support about the value and appropriateness of engaging individuals with dementia in research (as participants were able to contribute meaningful data) as well as, in group singing led by a music therapist. Furthermore, evidence supporting group singing as an aspect of dementia care that contributes to wellbeing (as conceptualized by the PERMA model’s five elements of positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement, Seligman, 2011) was noted.