Many of us have seen the video of Henry, a man with Alzheimer’s Diseases who becomes highly responsive to music through a “Music and Memory” program. Please click the links below for more information on Henry or the “Music and Memory” program.
Video of Henry:
Music and Memory Programs: http://musicandmemory.org/
This video has captured the eyes of many viewers. People have seen how music can transform someone who appears disconnected and isolated to someone who is extremely engaged, connected, expressive, and responsive.
During the past Canadian Music Therapy Conference at the University of Toronto, I went to a session with Dr. Laurel Young, Music Therapist and Professor at Concordia University’s Masters of Music Therapy Program. It was brought to my attention during this session that there is no current credible research on the application of iPods in dementia care. Dr. Young recently received a grant to do research in this area with the Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto.
Across North America “Music and Memory” programs are being integrated into long term care facilities and there are many factors that should be taken into consideration as these programs have the possibility the cause distress, discomfort, and anxiety with this population.
Overstimulation: As some of us have experienced with the geriatric population, overstimulating environments can promote grief and anxiety. It becomes necessary for the individual with dementia to have the cognitive ability to indicate whether the music is too loud or when they are finished listening to the iPod. One must not assume that with hearing loss that the music should be at a loud volume. I could only imagine how one would feel if they had music blasting at them for an extended period of time. Not only would it cause physiological harm but it also emotional distress.
Neglect: I fully understand that nursing staff and caregivers in long term care facilities have an extremely difficult and demanding job. Yet I worry that as “Music and Memory” programs are integrated into long term care facilities that staff will take advantage of them. As a Music Therapist I see how music can be extremely beneficial in healthcare but it certainly will not be therapeutic for every individual if music is constantly being used, day in and day out. Quality of life will only diminish from prolonged activities such as watching TV, sitting in front of a nurses station, or in this instance listening to an iPod all day.
Memory and Anxiety: Music is one of the last memory centers of the brain to deteriorate with dementia and Alzheimer’s. It is also second to smell for it’s ability to trigger memories. This is due, in part, to a long evolutionary tradition that connects a need to process sound quickly in order to survive. Clinically, there are certain situations where this can be incredibly powerful, as in cases where dementia is involved and a well-known song creates a moment of lucidity. But it can also be unwelcome and unwanted when music triggers upsetting memories from the past. Music Therapists are trained to be responsive to emotional stimulus that occurs when their clients are experiencing music. It is my belief that all “Music and Memory” programs should have a trained professional, not necessarily a Music Therapist, on site to be present in these types of circumstances.
All this being said, I am not against “Music and Memory” programs. As a Music Therapist, every day I witness the transformative power of music and I recognize it’s healthcare benefits within the geriatric community. I am simply asking that as “Music and Memory” programs are integrated into long term care facilities that they are done with care, thought, as well as clinical and therapeutic meaning.