Musicoterapia e doença de Alzheimer: um estudo com cônjuges cuidadores

Abstract

Dementia is a syndrome that affects memory, behavior and activities of daily living, and is one of the major causes of dependence among the elderly. Often the primary caregiver of the elderly with dementia is the spouse, which can carry a significant burden, also compromising the quality of their relationship. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of singing in music therapy on the marital relationship of four couples, in which one of the spouses is diagnosed with early or moderate Alzheimer's disease. The work was carried out as a multiple case study, being an unexplored topic, allowing for a more detailed survey of the process. Anamnesis and the Music Therapy data were applied to collect initial information, followed by 12 sessions of music therapy. Before and after the process, interviews with a semistructured script were applied and its content was interpreted through Bardin's content analysis. From the perspective of the caregiver, the satisfaction with family and friendship relationships and the quality of the conjugal relationship before and after the illness were also evaluated. The results suggest that the interventions allowed pleasant moments, with benefits mainly for the caregiver. Some testimonials indicated that the interventions offered tools so that the caregiver could better deal with the behavioral symptoms of the spouse with dementia, benefiting the quality of the conjugal relationship. Despite the limited number of participants, it is expected to contribute to the reflection about the possibilities of care, with guidelines for the more assertive application of strategies within the context studied.