Why Music Therapy in Geriatric Care?
Music
is a priceless resource in the geriatric population. Music is an
excellent outlet that provides enjoyment, relaxation, pain relief, and
offers
the opportunity
to socialize and reminisce about the influence of music and important
events and/or life experiences for the individual. It can have a
striking
effect on patients with Alzheimer's disease, even sometimes allowing them to focus and become more responsive for
an extended period of time. Music has also been observed to decrease the agitation that is
so common with this disease.
Physical Limitations Due to Aging
A
person who has physical limitations is likely to experience
psychological distress when faced with the decline of their
independence. He/she may have significant difficulty in accepting the
loss of his/her autonomy and adapting to a new way of life. This can
result in feelings of frustration, anxiety, isolation or depression.
Music
therapy can maintain or improve the person’s emotional and social
well-being. The music therapist first conducts an Initial Assessment
Test to identify the client’s needs and strengths in different areas.
These include socio-affective and cognitive areas as well as his/her
habits and musical preferences. An Individual Intervention Plan is then
devised and includes global objectives such as: expressing one’s
emotional difficulties, managing one’s anxiety, overcoming one’s
feelings of sadness associated with his/her multiple losses, developing
adaptation strategies, finding a meaning to life, living in the moment,
etc.
To attain these objectives, the music therapist employs a variety of methods and techniques that use music in all its forms. The communicative and creative properties of music are central to the client-therapist relationship and therapeutic interactions. The person may be invited to recognize their physical strengths through vocal and/or instrumental improvisations, to participate in discussions based on song lyrics that validate and support his/her experiences, to participate in activities which maximize peer support via musical cohesiveness, to relax or move to music in order to maintain his/her flexibility and physical fitness, etc. A wide variety of instruments (guitar, piano, percussion instruments to name a few) are incorporated into sessions in order to satisfy individual musical preferences and offer everyone a rich and meaningful experience. In short, music therapy is a useful means to reach a person who has physical limitations and to contribute to his/her well-being.
Information found on this page was taken from the complimentary brochures from
A
person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementia experiences a
global deterioration of cognitive functioning. This can cause emotional
distress and social isolation. He/she experiences significant
difficulties which bring about a gradual loss of autonomy. Loss in
memory, communication and orientation can cause anxiety,
disorganization, and behavioral problems.
Music
therapy can maintain or improve the person’s emotional and social
well-being. Through and Initial Assessment, the music therapist first
identifies the person’s needs and strengths in socio-affective,
cognitive areas, and highlight their habits and musical preferences. An
Individual Intervention Plan is then devised to include overall goals
such as: stimulating the awareness of the environment, managing anxiety,
stabilizing mood, promoting reminiscence and encouraging interactions
and communication, etc. The person then attends individual or group
music therapy sessions depending on his/her needs.
To attain these objectives, the music therapist employs a variety of methods and techniques that use music in all its forms. The communicative and creative properties of music are central to the client-therapist relationship and therapeutic interactions.The person may be invited to participate in theme-based vocal and/or instrumental improvisations to evoke emotions or memories, to listen to a pre-composed song whose lyrics express a familiar situation, to participate in discussions about chosen pieces of music and/or to move to or relax to music. A wide variety of instruments (guitar, piano, percussion instruments to name a few) are incorporated into sessions in order to satisfy individual musical preferences and offer a rich and meaningful experience. In short, music therapy is a useful means to reach a person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementia and to contribute to his/her well-being.
