Music Therapy And Dementia Essay

Evidence based practice shows that music has had many positive effects on those with dementia when used as a form of treatment. In fact, some of the benefits that have resulted from music therapy are currently unachievable by other interventions. Music therapy is defined as “controlled use of music and its influence on the human being to aid in physiological, psychological and emotional integration of individual during treatment of an illness or disability” (Sung, Lee, Chang & Smith, 2011). Patients with advanced dementia display a variety of unfavorable behaviors that are unpleasant and difficult to

Following the developing of social sciences, everybody has started to get concerned about the issue if music is good for healthy body and mental recently. This phenomenon makes the music therapy becomes popular. Music therapy is defined as “ the therapeutic use of music as to reduce anxiety, improve cognitive functioning, promote physical rehabilitation, or enhance interpersonal communication that typically involves listening to music, singing, playing musical instruments, or composing music “ in the Merriam-Webster.com. In other words, through the activity of music people can improve physical or psychological disease that achieves cure and health.

A recent study of music therapy interventions was conducted on 1,891 participants. The study was offered by music therapists and medical staff.

Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by an accredited professional who as completed an approved music therapy program. “Music therapists hope that scientific research continues to define how their work differs from entertainment, and how it benefits patients as much as other more familiar complementary therapies such as art therapy.” (Mellskog) This shows how even though there is little research and evidence on music therapy, it is still very effective and a

In order to prove my point, I made an experiment. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used with nonequivalent control group. The experimental group participated in the music therapy twice a week for 7 weeks while continuing their standard treatment. The control group received nursing care including psychopharmacology, routinely provided in the hospitals.

In the article “Dementia and the Power of Music Therapy” by Steve Matthews, argues that music therapy has positive effects on dementia, in terms of non-pharmacological treatment, inexpensive in health budgets, and neurocognitive benefits for patients. Matthews starts off the article by describing current tendency of dementia in western nation. He mentions that dementia is one of fast increasing disease in United States, Canada, UK, Europe, and Australia. Additionally, Australian government’s investment for dementia raised up to third highest in national health budgets, in the wake of cardiovascular disease and cancer (Matthews 2015). Following that, there is need for music therapy as an alternative approach in order to treat dementia.

“Who are you again?” my great-grandmother asked her daughter, my grandma. Dementia is a horrible diagnosis not only for the people diagnosed with it, but also for everyone around them. Someone you’ve known your whole life slowly starts to forget you. I want to know many things about dementia because I know as I get older there is a larger chance more and more people close to me will suffer with dementia. I have chosen this topic since both my great-grandparents suffered with dementia/Alzheimer’s, so I have been in contact with people who start to forget the most important things and people in their lives.

Music is a wonderful Alzheimer's care tool, which can be used to connect with patients. Senior Care Transition Services in Dayton, OH, is an expert in such care resources, helping the elderly and their families find appropriate senior care options. Finding the right “fit” for senior care is especially important for patients dealing with dementia.

Everyone knows that from hearing that song associated with your first love, a loss, a tragedy, etc., that music has a very powerful effect on personal memories

Thesis: Music Therapy is a skillful use of music and musical elements by an accredited music therapist to promote, maintain, and restore mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

I found the podcast for music’s effect on dementia patients very interesting and phenomenon. Aside from what lessens dementia, dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability. In the podcast, Dan Cohen came up with a mnemonic device to allow dementia patients to remember things or enjoy things that they had forgotten due to their study findings. Mnemonic devices are memory devices that help learners recall larger pieces of information, the device in this case was the music because it helped the patients to regain lost memories. The man named Henry was astounding how he went from being slumped to singing something he heard or listened to a long time. Apparently they came to realize that by dementia patients listening to music they

Music Therapy in the 1940’s began to expand and find its way into the way of treating various mental and physical disorders. Everett Thayer Gaston, also known as “the father of music”, was one of many that brought Music Therapy to the eye of clinical treatments. There are actually very few in the musical education and therapy field that do not know Gaston’s name. He and others also brought the importance of musical education to the eye of the community, enabling the use of music in elementary schools and colleges. Showing that the importance of music starts young and carries on into adulthood.

Music therapy is noninvasive, it activates multiple areas of the brain that are necessary for positive and successful results, and for a lot of patients, a preferred type of therapy. It is cost effective, does not have post treatment side effects, and benefits more than just the patient, but those around them; such as, friends, family, and care givers.. Music engages the brain in a very powerful and comprehensive way.

In order to remedy deficits in undergraduate training, some music therapists chose to explore graduate programs (Bruscia, 1989). Bruscia (1987) proposed that the bachelor’s degree in music therapy should function as preparation for the master’s degree, and thus provide a broad-based education for the development of musical and therapeutic skills. Justification for entry level at the master’s degree level also suggests the possibility of state licensure, which would allow the music therapist to practice independently and open new opportunities for reimbursement.

According to the American Music Therapy Association (A.M.T.A.), music therapy is “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” As a generally new and upcoming industry, music therapy is often underestimated. By incorporating different areas of the brain, music can reduce stress, ease