Development of a collaborative music therapy and social work telehealth framework to address the well‐being of community‐dwelling older adults

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundOlder adults often experience changes in health, finances, and social support, which impede community involvement and can be compounded by the onset of cognitive decline. Interprofessional collaboration can help counter such challenges. Here, researchers present a feasibility study, which demonstrated support for a novel social work and music therapy telehealth framework to promote well‐being of older adults with and without dementia. We describe the subsequent pilot study design.MethodDuring the feasibility phase, researchers field‐tested logistics and provided proof‐of‐concept of our novel framework in a randomized cross‐over design. All participants received 6 music therapy sessions via telehealth across 3 weeks (2x/week for 25 minutes) and one 30‐minute social work wellness session with service referral. Quantitative outcomes included self‐reported feelings, anxiety, depression, and loneliness to inform the utility of this framework to improve well‐being of older adults with and without dementia. We conducted semi‐structured interviews with participants and care partners, who offered input about all aspects of the study.ResultsLessons gleaned from the feasibility study, and which informed the pilot, were: 1) participants conveyed that the delivery model was acceptable, interesting, convenient, and helpful; 2) given resources and support using digital technology, older adults found telehealth to be an attractive and feasible delivery mode; 2) older adults and care partners liked music therapy and greatly disliked the recorded music option; 3) music therapists could utilize the “Clinical Practice Model” (Reschke‐Hernández, 2021) to inform provision of appropriate levels of support and challenge to older adults with and without dementia via Zoom; and 4) social workers could leverage the rapport music therapists built with participants and the information they gathered during sessions to link older adults to community resources ‐ a service older adults found more helpful and meaningful than in past social work experiences. Pilot results will be available in December 2023.ConclusionThis project advances a collaborative research partnership to improve research quality and facilitate access to services for older adults with and without dementia. The careful steps of this feasibility and pilot work will inform best practice in an innovative area of music therapy and social work professions.