Music Therapy
Changing Older Adult Lives Through Music
Music Therapy
Changing Older Adult Lives Through Music
Ruth Sherk
Simon Fraser University
GERO 400
Assignment 2
Student #: 100093055
February 25, 2013
Why consider Music Therapy?
 My knowledge of Music Therapy is limited
 I have witnessed the positive outcomes of
music therapy among our older adult
residents where I work, and wonder how this
occurs
 Social Work seeks to utilize best practice
interventions when working with older adults
Music Therapy
Changing Older Adult Lives Through Music
Music is thought to link
all of the emotional,
spiritual, and physical
elements of the universe.
Physical
Spiritual
Laurence O’Donnell III
Emotional
Presentation overview:
A. Music Participation
B. Music in History
C. Music as Therapy
D. Music Therapy – changing older
adult lives through music – look
at research, practice and current
literature
A. Music Participation
GUEST:
Sheila Harry, B.Mus., MTA
Employed fulltime as a Music Therapist
at a
Long-Term Care Facility
B. Music in History
Music has been used as a healing source for centuries:
 Music Therapy goes back to biblical times, when
David played the harp to rid King Saul of a bad spirit.
 About 400 B.C., Hippocrates, Greek father of
medicine, played music for his mental patients.
 Aristotle described music as a force that purified the
emotions.
 In 13th Century, Arab hospitals contained musicrooms for the benefit of the patients.
 In the United States, Native American medicine men
often employed chants and dances as a method of
healing patients.
 Franz Liszt’s piano music in the 1840s was known to
cause women to faint upon hearing his concerts.
 Music Therapy as we know it began in the aftermath
of the World Wars I and II. Musicians would travel to
hospitals, especially the UK, and play music for
soldiers suffering from war-related emotional and
physical trauma.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_therapy
Why be familiar with
styles of music?
In a research article by Tabloski and McKinnonHowe (2005), the authors examined the use of
calming music to decrease agitation in
cognitively impaired nursing home residents.
The key to music selection is not only the type
of music but also the memories it evokes.
Finding out what kind of music residents
preferred to listen to when they were younger
or consulting with family members to assemble
a music library collection is a key to success.
YouTube selection:
“HENRY”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgNLLelQYwI
A clip highlighting the use of iPod
C. Music as Therapy
In the mid-1950's, music therapists were working
independently in Canada; in 1960, Norma Sharpe
conducted a survey of music in hospitals across Canada
which provided a baseline measure for music awareness.
At the May 1976 music therapy conference, the national
music therapy association was founded and named the
Canadian Music Therapy Association (CMTA).
In Canada there are six universities that offer a MTA
program. In the United States there are approximately
70 academic institutions that provide MTA education. In
addition, there are MTA programs in the UK, Australia,
Africa and Europe.
As we can see, the MTA program is progressing in
importance.
The Aim of Music Therapy:
 Changing lives through music is the aim of the
music therapist’s focus. Music provides a nonthreatening presence and transports the listener to
‘another place.’
 According the Canadian Association for Music
Therapy, music therapy is the skillful use of music
and musical elements by an accredited music
therapist to promote, maintain, and restore mental,
physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
 Accredited music therapists, MTA, complete a
Bachelor or a Graduate Certificate in music therapy
and a 1000-hour supervised clinical internship.
Sheila will explain the prerequisites
for becoming a Music Therapist
Music Therapy is considered both
an art and a science
ART
What’s great about music
is that it carries some of
the same characteristics as
traditional art. Both music
and art are capable of
conveying emotion without
words.
Music can also be used in
concert with creating art.
SCIENCE
A small but growing body
of scientific evidence
suggests that music and
other rhythmic stimuli can
alter mental states in
predictable ways and even
heal damaged brains.
Research has shown,
music with a strong beat
stimulates the brain and
ultimately causes
brainwaves to resonate in
time with the rhythm.
YouTube selection:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rDhV1Tm1LI
Evergreen Home - Music Therapy
D. Music Therapy –
changing
older adult lives through music
Music Therapy provides opportunities for:
-
Memory recall which contributes to reminiscence and
satisfaction with life
-
Positive changes in mood and emotional states
-
Sense of control over life through successful
experiences
-
Awareness of self and environment
-
Anxiety and stress reduction for older adult and
caregiver
-
Nonpharmacological management of pain and
discomfort
-
Stimulation which provokes interest even when no
other approach is effective
-
Music validates the person
Research:
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research
 The music therapy experience is a complex one. It
involves subjective realities and relates to multilevel
intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships
between client(s), music, and music therapist(s).
What is the meaning of the music therapy experience
and how can it be best described?
How to study the music therapy experience in order to
discover its meaning?
 Attempts to “translate” the musical experience into
verbal language have all too often been dismissed
because the language seems not to be grounded in
anything “real”.
Dorit Amir (1993)
http://njmt.b.uib.no/2000/01/31/research-in-music-therapy-quantitative-or-qualitative/
Music Therapy Research Blog
Bringing current research to music therapy clinicians
http://www.musictherapyresearchblog.com/
STUDY: Affect Change in Older Adults with Dementia
Cohen-Mansfield et al (2011)
http://www.musictherapyresearchblog.com/affect-changein-older-adults-with-dementia/
Clinical Importance: As music therapists, we are aware
that client-preferred music is an integral component to
working with any population. This article did not use clientpreferred music and showed a low interest/pleasure in
recorded music. If we look at the two stimuli that scored
the highest – those related to self-identity and social
interaction – live music therapy intervention would include
both of these categories. To me, this would support the use
of live music therapy intervention over imposed passive
music listening.
YouTube selection:
Music and the Brain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUT9UTVrwp8&lis
t=PL98FFEBA252771D3D
Music on the Brain
A study by Stephan Koelsch (2009), showed that listening to joyful
music can lead to activity changes in the amygdala and the
hippocampus, even if individuals do not have intense “chill”
experiences. (using PET imaging)
YouTube - The Drs.
http://on.aol.com/video/how-the-brain-processesmusic-517477661
Literature Reviews:
 Current study findings point toward the efficacy of
individualized music as simple, low-cost alternative to
physical and chemical restraints.
 Discussion of the Theory of Personhood (Kitwood) was
discussed in literature findings to support the idea of wellbeing. Kitwood (1997) claimed that personhood was sacred
and unique and that every person had an ethical status and
should be treated with deep respect.
 The role of music in palliative care is significant. The patient
and caregiver both commented on the beneficial presence of
live music, the use of familiar songs and the involvement of
voice.
 Researchers found that listening to music can reduce chronic
pain and depression. They found that people who listened to
music for an hour a day for a week reported improved physical
and psychological symptoms compared to the control group.
Handout Review
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ketz-mJ-x-Q
YouTube - PBSNewsHour (2012)
 Featuring Gabrielle Gifford’s recovery attributed to Music
Therapy to getting her voice back.
 A variety of examples of age groups and medical
conditions where Music Therapy is used.
 Eric Waldon states that Music Therapy is a therapeutic
relationship – an intentional use of music to address
non-musical goals.
 Listening to music can create new pathways around
damaged areas.
Silver Memories: Implementation and evaluation of
a unique radio program for older people (Australia).
Travers & Bartlett (2011).
 The use of radio to address social isolation and loneliness
among older people by providing entertainment, information
and companionship. (one hour a day for three months)
 Both social isolation and loneliness are associated with a range
of negative consequences including reduced quality of life
(QOL).
 Research shows that listening to music improves older people’s
QOL, lessen feelings of isolation and loneliness and is a frequent
source of positive emotion for this group. (cites study – pg.
170)
 Results from 113 participants: evaluation indicated that
listening to old-time music can improve QOL and mood of older
people. There was improvement on QOL and depression
scores.
 Discrepancy: no significant change in feelings of social
isolation and loneliness may be the result of the quantitative
nature of this study as compared to another qualitative study.
Research in Music Therapy: Quantitative or
Qualitative?
Dorit Amir (1993)
http://njmt.b.uib.no/2000/01/31/research-in-music-therapyquantitative-or-qualitative/
 The article addresses two burning questions: the meaning
of the music therapy experience and finding the right
research modalities in order to explore the musical
experience on a deeper level.
 Explains that in years past research was designed on
positivistic lines (measurable stimuli and observable
behavior) – Music Therapists had to prove that music
therapy works, and to explain how it works.
 The new research paradigm was needed explore the
experience of music therapy, eg. Qualitative research.
Research is: researcher is the key instrument; research is
descriptive; concerned with process vs. outcomes;
grounded theory based – from the bottom up, the field of
the ‘unknown’; find out the ‘meanings’ of the people who
participate in the experience.
In summary, from the perspective of neuroscience and
biology, there are numerous reasons to assume that music
and music therapy has beneficial effects on the psychological
and physiological health of individuals.
However, so far only few studies have actually tested, and
systemically investigated, such effects.
It is the challenge for the next decade to change this.
- Stephan Koelsch, (2009)
“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings
to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and
gaiety to life and to everything.” - Plato
Young @ Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p2Uezbw0U0
Bob Cilman and Judith Sharpe organized the Young@Heart
(Y@H) in 1982 whose members lived in an elderly housing
project in Northampton, MA called the Walter Salvo House.
By 1983 the original group was ready to create their first
stage production.
In 2006 a Walker George released a documentary called
“Young @ Heart”, which some of you may have seen.
Y@H released the CD, “Mostly Live” in August 2007.
Thank you
References
http://www.musictherapy.ca/en
Canadian Association for Music Therapy
http://www.mcgraw-hill.co.uk/html/0335198554.html
Kitwood, Tom (1997). Dementia Reconsidered.
http://www.alzheimer-europe.org/DE/Ethics/Definitions-andapproaches/Other-ethical-principles/Personhood
Amir, D. (1993). Research in Music Therapy: Quanitative or Qualitative?
Nordic Journal of Music, vol. 2(2).
Koelsch, S. (2009). A Neuroscientific Perspective on Music Therapy. The
Neurosciences and Music III 1169: 374-384.
http://www.cerebromente.org.br/n15/mente/musica.html
Laurence O’Donnell III (1999)
References, con’t.
Magill,L.(2008). The Meaning of the Music: The Role of Music in Palliative
Care Music Therapy as Perceived by Bereaved Caregivers of
Advanced Cancer Patients. American Journal of Hospice & Palliative
Medicine.
McCaffrey, Ruth (2008). Music Listening. Its Effects in Creating a Healing
Environment. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, vol. 46, No. 10.
Palmer, B. (2006). Therapeutic Benefits of Musical Rhythm.
http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/music_therapy.htm
Scott, E. (2011). About.com Stress Management - Music and Your Body.
Sole,C., Mercadal-Brotons,M., Gallego,S., & Riera, M. (2010).
Contributions of Music to Aging Adults Quality of Life. Journal of
Music Therapy.
References con’t
Travers,C.& Barlett,H. (2011). Silver Memories: Implementation and
evaluation of a unique radio program for older people. Aging and
Mental Health.
Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_therapy
Witzke, J., Rhone,R.a., Backhaus,D., & Sahver,A. (2008). How Sweet the
Sound. Research Evidence for the Use of Music in Alzheimer’s
Dementia. Journal of Gerontological Nursing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrZXz10FcVM
Feil, Naomi. (2009).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ketz-mJ-x-Q
PBSNewsHour (2012)