"Meeting the Needs of People with Dementia Through Music Therapy" Becky Dowson - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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"Meeting the Needs of People with Dementia Through Music Therapy" Becky Dowson

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Title: "Meeting the Needs of People with Dementia Through Music Therapy" Becky Dowson


1
"Meeting the Needs of People with Dementia
Through Music Therapy" Becky Dowson
2
Talk Outline
  • General introduction to music therapy
  • More detailed description of music therapy with
    people with dementia
  • Case study with video extracts
  • Conclusions

3
My background
  • Trained as a music therapist at Anglia Ruskin
    University.
  • Now work freelance for Guideposts Trust the
    majority of my work is with people who have
    dementia.

4
Music Therapy in the UK
  • Music therapy training in the UK is a Master's
    course (2 years full-time).
  • Music therapists register with the Health and
    Care Professions Council.
  • Music therapists work under supervision and
    practice CPD.

5
What is Music Therapy?
  • Music therapy is a psychological intervention
    which uses a variety of different types of music
    to draw the client into shared music-making, with
    therapeutic aims in mind.
  • Both improvised music and pre-composed music are
    used.
  • No need for the client to think themselves
    musical

6
Client Groups
  • Adults and children with learning disabilities or
    autistic spectrum disorders
  • People with mental health problems
  • Children/young people with EBD
  • People with neurological conditions (e.g. TBI and
    stroke)
  • People with dementia

7
  • With this whole client group what I have
    experienced is contact with that healthy
    side...with the cohesive side... rather than with
    the 'affected' side... I believe that the core of
    the human being is there and is unaffected
    because that is what I am working with this core
    of humanity can be contacted in this positive
    creative way... The music offers a place where
    the whole of the person can be integrated. (from
    Intimate Notes by Mercedes Pavlicevic)

8
Music Therapy with People with Dementia
  • A way of making contact with people with dementia
    through a medium which still makes sense to them.
  • Music therapy can help fulfil the needs of people
    with dementia outlined by Tom Kitwood.

9
Music Therapy Groups
  • Risk of isolation increased for people whose
    communication skills are impaired.
  • Music therapy groups offer opportunity to use
    non-verbal communication.
  • Chance to build new relationships with other
    group members, and strengthen existing
    relationships.

10
Familiar Music
  • Well-known songs and pieces often seems to
    provide a moment of clarity and focus to a person
    with dementia.
  • Music often prompts reminiscences.
  • Listening to familiar music can be a highly
    emotional experience.

11
Improvised Music
  • Gives clients the opportunity to anticipate and
    create new music alongside the therapist.
  • Can be a very empowering experience.
  • A medium for self-expression and a chance to
    discover new musical abilities.

12
Previous Musical Experience
  • Music therapy can give clients who have loved
    music or been musicians the chance to engage with
    music in a different way.
  • Can be especially helpful if the client has lost
    the physical ability or the opportunity to
    express themselves musically.
  • Some people have great sadness surrounding the
    abilities they have lost.

13
Case Study
  • Brian, a man in his 80s who has mild dementia.
  • Has been having weekly individual music therapy
    with me for four months.

14
Extract 1
  • Somewhere

15
Extract 2
  • I believe

16
Extract 3
  • La Donna e Mobile - cymbal and drums

17
Extract 4
  • Improvisation with drum, cymbal and piano

18
Summary of Case Study
  • Music therapy gives Brian a chance to affirm his
    identity as a singer.
  • It has also given him the opportunity to develop
    other parts of his musical personality.
  • The therapeutic relationship is important in
    helping Brian feel secure enough to sing, play
    and express himself.

19
Closing Thoughts
  • What makes music therapy an especially suitable
    intervention for people with dementia?
  • It is tailored to each client's unique needs
  • As dementia progresses, music therapy can change
    and adapt
  • It offers an opportunity for communication that
    does not depend on words
  • It can help people to form new relationships and
    maintain old ones.
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