Therapeutic Choirs for Families Living with Dementia: A Phenomenological Study

Music therapy for supporting informal carers of adults with life-threatening illness pre- and post-bereavement; a mixed-methods systematic review

“…Family members enjoyed listening to the music and felt more connected with the sick family member. Thompson et al (2022) [ 87 ], Australia Qualitative study (semi structured interviews, IPA) Family carers ( n =7) Age range: 50-89 Gender: 5 female, 2 male Individuals with dementia living at home Early-moderate stage dementia See Tamplin et al [ 86 ] N/A N/A Eight themes identified the perceived benefits of choir singing and elements of the choirs and research project more broadly that influenced participation. Overarching theme 1: participating in the Remini-Sing choirs afforded experiences of personal and social benefits: Theme 1: therapeutic choir participation fosters positive feelings Theme 2: singing in THE choir promotes cognitive stimulation, connection to identity, for individuals with Dementia Theme 3: opportunities to engage musical identity Theme 4: choir participation enables much needed social connections Theme 5: participating as dyads for pragmatic and personal reasons Overarching theme 2: pragmatic aspects of the choirs and research design impacted the experience for participants: Theme 6: getting started can be challenging – a welcoming environment is needed Theme 7: accessibility of therapeutic Design Theme 8: sustainability of choirs is desired Young & Pringle (2018) [ 61 ], Canada Qualitative study (individual semi-structured qualitative interviews.…”

“…Each session began with greeting, short introduction and a request for feedback on the previous session. At the end of each session, the patients had the opportunity to give feedback and share their experiences Up to 5 x 5-30-minute sessions (determined by patient requirements), weekly 2 experienced music therapists, both having more than 10 years of professional experience Experienced music therapists delivered No further information reported Stationary 16-bed hospice Individual patients and carers (body tambura placed on or near patients’ body, but family carers who were present for the treatment were considered to have “experienced” the intervention) Thompson et al (2022) [ 87 ], Australia See Tamplin et al [ 86 ] See Tamplin et al [ 86 ] See Tamplin et al [ 86 ] See Tamplin et al [ 86 ] See Tamplin et al [ 86 ] See Tamplin et al [ 86 ] See Tamplin et al [ 86 ] Young and Pringle (2018) [ 61 ], Canada Not reported Delivered at post-bereavement, directed only to carers Singing Well group - community hospice-based postloss bereavement music therapy group Various creative vocal expression, e.g., breathing and relaxation, vocal warm ups, humming, toning, chanting, vocal improvisation, song writing/song sharing, group singing (participants’ song choices), and a closing song Structure adapted to participants’ needs 2 Songbooks (lyrics only). When a participant requested a song not contained in the book, facilitators improvised, participant lead singing, group sang along with online recording, or facilitators learnt song and offered in a subsequent session 6 x 90-minute groups, over 3-month period 2 certified music therapists (MTA) with a combined total of 42 years of experience Pilot sessions informed development of protocol Experienced music therapists delivered Community hospice Group ( n =7 members) …”

Mental Health on the Go: Navigating Travel and Travel Eligibility

“…Despite available treatments, the elusive nature of dementia’s origins results in inconsistent outcomes. Consequently, non-pharmacological approaches, such as art (Hodgson et al, 2023; Marco & Redolat, 2023; Shoesmith et al, 2022), music (Thompson et al, 2023), multisensory simulation (Solé et al, 2022), social activities (Mabire, Gay et al, 2022), and training (Klaming et al, 2023), are favored for their affordability and low side-effect profile (Bowman & Lim, 2022; Livingston et al, 2020).…”

“Follow the Musical Road”: Selecting Appropriate Music Experiences for People with Dementia Living in the Community

“…Choir singing is an accessible and enjoyable music activity that can support the health and well-being of people with dementia and their family caregivers [61]. Dementiainclusive choirs promote social inclusion and aim to reduce the stigma associated with a diagnosis of dementia.…”