The use of music therapy components to promote interaction between a person with dementia and a caregiver

A Community-Based Music Therapy Support Group for People With Alzheimer's Disease and Their Caregivers: A Sustainable Partnership Model

“…For the PwD, research indicates that music therapy has been found to reduce agitation ( 4 – 6 ), reduce Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) ( 7 , 8 ) and decrease anxiety and depression ( 9 ). Research shows that participants who engaged in MT improved mood ( 10 ) by singing and listening, and through reminiscence MT ( 11 ) and listening to 20-min sequences of computer programmed music ( 9 ).…”

“…If the PwD has enjoyed being a part of a social circle through conversation, music and/or dancing prior to the onset of dementia, but is no longer able to participate in the same way they once were, adapting communication to the mode of singing, playing rhythms or moving to music can help alleviate some frustration caused by deficits in speech and physical mobility, and therefore ease the tension on the caregiver. Ridder et al ( 6 ) examined music therapy components for promoting interactions while Clair ( 20 ) found increased mutual engagement between the PwD and their caregiver, and Klein and Silverman ( 21 ) found that a songwriting intervention helped with coping skills for the care partner of the PwD by reducing stress, having fun, and improving group cohesiveness and camaraderie while providing psychoeducational counseling. Hanser ( 22 ) addressed the needs of the PwD and their family caregiver and described a protocol that was facilitated by the music therapist, improving the psychological health of the PwD and reducing the stress of the caregiver in their home while improving the quality of life, reporting enjoyment in the interactions with loved ones that occurred while reminiscing and making music.…”