What You Need To Know About Music Therapy For Elderly

Introduction

Music therapy is the therapeutic use of music to promote physical, emotional, intellectual, and social well-being. The goals of music therapy are to address individual needs in a holistic manner that acknowledges the integrated nature of mind, body, and spirit. Music is a natural intervention that can be used to improve a person’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. Positive mental health has been associated with music therapy interventions in several research studies. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of music therapy on patients’ cognitive functions. In this study, cognitive status was measured using Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), which consists of three parts: orientation, concentration and memory during the first two sessions and orientation and attention during the third session. It was hypothesized that music therapy would improve the cognitive functions of elderly patients in the study.

What Are The Types Of Music Therapy For Elderly?

Music Therapy Music Therapy is the therapeutic use of music to promote physical, emotional, intellectual, and social well-being. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of music therapy on patients’ cognitive functions. In this study, cognitive status was measured using Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), which consists of three parts: orientation, concentration and memory during the first two sessions and orientation and attention during the third session. It was hypothesized that music therapy would improve the cognitive functions of elderly patients in the study.

Why Should The Elderly Get Music Therapy?

Music therapy has been applied to different medical situations with positive results. Gagnon did a meta-analysis of studies on the effectiveness of music therapy, which included 23 clinical studies. The results showed that music therapy lowered anxiety in these patients. Music therapy also lowered the incidence of delirium for older individuals suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The stress levels in both patients and non-patients have been reduced after being exposed to relaxing music that matched their individual preferences. On the other hand, listening to enjoyable music has also been proven to improve sleep quality for elderly individuals suffering from sleep disorders associated with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Based on these hypotheses, music therapy has the ability to benefit the elderly.

How Does Music Therapy Help The Elderly?

Music therapy has been applied to different medical situations with positive results. Gagnon did a meta-analysis of studies on the effectiveness of music therapy, which included 23 clinical studies. The results showed that music therapy lowered anxiety in these patients. Music therapy also lowered the incidence of delirium for older individuals suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The stress levels in both patients and non-patients have been reduced after being exposed to relaxing music that matched their individual preferences. On the other hand, listening to enjoyable music has also been proven to improve sleep quality for elderly individuals suffering from sleep disorders associated with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Based on these hypotheses, music therapy has the ability to benefit the elderly.

Where To Get Music Therapy For Elderly?

Music Therapy Music Therapy is the therapeutic use of music to promote physical, emotional, intellectual, and social well-being. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of music therapy on patients’ cognitive functions. In this study, cognitive status was measured using Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), which consists of three parts: orientation, concentration and memory during the first two sessions and orientation and attention during the third session. It was hypothesized that music therapy would improve the cognitive functions of elderly patients in the study. Method In this study, patients aged 65 and older with mild cognitive impairment or memory complaint that had been with their doctor(s) for at least six months were eligible for participation in the experimental group. Those who met the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s disease were excluded from both groups. Both groups underwent a baseline session to assess their general physical and mental status. In addition, a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test was conducted to assess their cognitive status. Patients in the experimental group were randomly assigned to music therapy or no music therapy (waitlist control). Both groups were evaluated after six weeks of intervention; each participant underwent the MMSE again to evaluate any changes in cognitive status over time. Results demonstrated that patients who received music therapy exhibited significant improvement in their cognitive functions compared with those who did not receive the intervention. The MMSE scores of patients in the experimental group improved significantly, while those in the waitlist control group did not.

Methods

After obtaining ethical approval, consecutive eligible patients were recruited from an outpatient rehabilitation service in a hospital setting. A pilot study was conducted with 20 patients to determine whether or not they were suitable for inclusion into this study. Patients who agreed to participate were randomized into two groups, each receiving one session of music therapy per week for six weeks. Of the 20 patients included in the pilot study, 20 were selected for this study. Equal numbers of patients were assigned to each group at random. In this study, patients aged 65 and older with mild cognitive impairment or memory complaints that had been with their doctor(s) for at least six months were eligible for participation in the experimental group. Those who met the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s disease were excluded from both groups. Both groups underwent a baseline session to assess their general physical and mental status. In addition, a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test was conducted to assess their cognitive status. Patients in the experimental group were randomly assigned to music therapy or no music therapy (waitlist control). Both groups were evaluated after six weeks of intervention; each participant underwent the MMSE again to evaluate any changes in cognitive status over time.

Results

The results demonstrated that patients who received music therapy exhibited significant improvement in their cognitive functions compared with those who did not receive the intervention. The MMSE scores of patients in the experimental group improved significantly, while those in the waitlist control group did not. patients’ cognitive functions also returned to baseline levels after the six-week intervention.

Conclusions

The results demonstrated that patients who received music therapy exhibited significant improvement in their cognitive functions compared with those who did not receive the intervention. The MMSE scores of patients in the experimental group improved significantly, while those in the waitlist control group did not. patients’ cognitive functions also returned to baseline levels after the six-week intervention.

Patients in both groups were assessed using a standard form before and after treatment to evaluate any changes in cognitive status over time. In addition, a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test was conducted to assess their cognitive status at baseline and post-intervention.