Music and the wellbeing of people with dementia

Abstract

While therapeutic interventions involving music have been shown to have benefits for people with dementia, little research has examined the role of music and music-related activities in their everyday lives. This paper presents the results of qualitative research that explored this role in terms of : the meaning and importance of music in everyday life ; the benefits derived from participation in music-related activities ; and the problems of engaging with music. Data were collected during in-depth interviews with 26 people with dementia and their carers, who lived either in their own homes or in residential care in different parts of England. The paper illustrates the many different ways in which people with dementia experience music. As well as being enjoyed in its own right, music can enable people to participate in activities that are enjoyable and personally meaningful. It is an important source of social cohesion and social contact, supports participation in various activities within and outside the household, and provides a degree of empowerment and control over their everyday situations. The practical implications for the provision of care and support for people with dementia are discussed. The scope and implications for technological development to promote access to music are also discussed.

The Unforgettables: a chorus for people with dementia with their family members and friends

“…Qualitative outcomes include reports of improvement in mood and quality of life, and strengthening of emotional bonding and social relationships through the enjoyable activity of singing (Sixsmith and Gibson, 2007). A few examples serve to illustrate these outcomes.…”

“…Another qualitative study of musical activities for people with dementia living at home concluded that music can enable people with dementia and their caregivers to enjoy the personally meaningful activity of singing together and that this activity can improve mood despite cognitive and other impairments, can serve as an important source of social cohesion and social contact, support participation in various activities both in and outside the home, and provide a degree of empowerment and control over everyday situations (Sixsmith and Gibson, 2007). A small controlled study of older adults with varying cognitive ability in a residential unit and day care center found that participation in a music therapist-led choir significantly reduced depressive symptoms, improved quality of life, and increased cognitive functioning (Ahessy, 2016).…”

Facilitating independence: The benefits of a post-diagnostic support project for people with dementia

“…Thus, this evaluation of a post-diagnostic support pilot project provided a particular opportunity to explore the difference (or lack of difference) that post-diagnostic support may make to people's quality of life in the medium term. This paper reports the views of the project held by people newly diagnosed with dementia and their family members; as such it builds on the body of literature focusing on the views of people with dementia and their carers (Clare, Roth, & Pratt, 2005;Innes, Kelly, & Dincarslan, 2011;McKillop & Wilkinson, 2004;Mountain & Craig, 2012;Mason et al, 2005;Sixsmith & Gibson, 2007).…”

Scaffolding, organizational structure and interpersonal interaction in musical activities with older people

“…There is some evidence, for example, that in the latter part of our lives participation in music may provide a source of enhanced social cohesion, enjoyment, personal development and empowerment (for example, Coffman, 2002;Sixsmith and Gibson, 2007;see Creech et al, in press, for a review). Some compelling evidence suggests that engagement with music continues to contribute to quality of life throughout the latter stages of the life-course, regardless of cognitive capacity (Cohen, Bailey and Nilsson, 2002) or musical background (Hays and Minichiello, 2005).…”