Remini-Sing: A Feasibility Study of Therapeutic Group Singing to Support Relationship Quality and Wellbeing for Community-Dwelling People Living With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers

Abstract

Background: Living at home following a diagnosis of dementia can be difficult for both the person living with dementia (PwD) and their family caregivers (FCG). Active group music participation may provide an avenue for emotional release, offer psychosocial support to caregivers and stimulate meaningful interaction between caregivers and loved ones with dementia. Therapeutic music interventions also have the capacity to facilitate reminiscence and social engagement and can help to manage challenging symptoms associated with dementia, such as anxiety, apathy, and agitation.Method: This feasibility study examined the acceptability of a 20-week therapeutic group singing intervention (Remini-Sing) and quantitative research assessments for PwD/FCG dyads living in the community. Quantitative measures for the following outcomes were tested for sensitivity and acceptability: relationship quality (PwD and FCG); life satisfaction, caregiver satisfaction, flourishing, and depression for FCGs; and anxiety, apathy, agitation, and quality of life for PwD. Quantitative assessments were conducted before, during (midway) and after 20 weeks of participation in a therapeutic singing group attended by the PwD and FCG together. The Remini-Sing intervention incorporated vocal warm ups, singing familiar songs, learning new songs, and opportunities for social interaction. Qualitative interviews were conducted with all dyads that completed the intervention.Results: Twelve PWD/FCG dyads were recruited and enrolled in the study. High participation and retention rates indicated that the intervention was received favorably by participants. There were no statistically significant changes on measures from pre to post intervention. However, favorable baseline scores on relationship quality and wellbeing measures were sustained over the 20-week intervention. The testing of these measures for feasibility also revealed that some were too difficult for PwD and thus yielded questionable results, some were potentially less relevant, and there were likely floor and ceiling effects on several of the measures utilized.Conclusions: This study demonstrated good feasibility for a research protocol and therapeutic group singing intervention for community-dwelling PwD and their FCGs. Participant reflections and researcher observations yielded useful information guiding the selection of quantitative outcome measures for future research in this area.

Quality of the caregiving relationship and quality of life in mild Alzheimer's dementia

“…22,63 The lack of awareness, at least partly due to the cognitive deficits of the person with dementia, might result in a lower ability to precisely determine the relationship quality. 64 However, the lack of awareness cannot only be attributed to cognitive deficits. The biopsychosocial model of awareness adds psychological (e.g., anxiety, self-concept) and social factors to the cognitive factors.…”

Pilot Randomised Evaluation of Singing in Dementia (PRESIDE): Protocol for a Two-Arm, Parallel Group Randomised Controlled Feasibility Study with Waiting-List Control

“…To date, no large-scale, randomised study has evaluated group singing for people with dementia and their carers in the community. Evidence from smaller studies is variable; several studies found no change on standardised measures of quality of life, mood, or neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, but reported favourable qualitative ndings [11][12][13]. In a small pre-post study of group singing which showed improvements in quality of life, self-esteem and social support for people with dementia and their carers, the authors call for an evidence base to demonstrate the psychological bene ts and potential for improvement in cognitive function which they believe group singing affords [14].…”

Pilot Randomised Evaluation of Singing in Dementia (PRESIDE): protocol for a two-arm, parallel group randomised controlled feasibility study with waiting-list control

“…A study of this kind has recently been completed in Australia (Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ID: ACTRN12617001513303) and the results are pending publication (this study has singing groups facilitated by music therapists while the facilitators in the present study are community musicians, so this will make an interesting point for comparison). Evidence from smaller studies is variable; several studies found no change on standardised measures of quality of life, mood, or neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, but reported favourable qualitative ndings [14][15][16]. In a small pre-post study of group singing which showed improvements in quality of life, self-esteem and social support for people with dementia and their carers, the authors call for an evidence base to demonstrate the psychological bene ts and potential for improvement in cognitive function which they believe group singing affords [17].…”