Music engagement as part of everyday life in dementia caregiving relationships at home

This study examined music engagement in the context of daily life to identify patterns of music engagement and potential targets for the design of music-based interventions to support well-being.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This ethnographic, in-home study of people living with dementia and their family and professional care partners used methods from ethnomusicology, including semi-structured interviews and in-home participant-observation with a focus on music engagement.RESULTS: 21 dyads were purposively recruited for diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity/race/heritage, caregiving relationship and music experiences. Despite participants' diverse music preferences, three distinct music engagement patterns emerged. 1) Professional care partners intentionally integrated music listening and singing into daily life as part of providing direct care. 2) Family care partners, who had prior dementia care nursing experience or family music traditions, integrated music into daily life in ways that supported their personal relationships. 3) In contrast, family care partners, who lacked dementia care experience and had high levels of caregiver burden, disengaged from prior music-making.DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The distinct music engagement patterns reflect different needs on the part of dyads. It is important to continue to support dyads who engage in music daily, and to consider developing music-based interventions to support well-being among dyads who have become disengaged from...

Source: The Gerontologist - December 30, 2023 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Theresa A Allison Jennie M Gubner Krista L Harrison Alexander K Smith Deborah E Barnes Kenneth E Covinsky Kristine Yaffe Julene K Johnson Source Type: research