Live wind music within an acute ward for people with dementia

Abstract

Abstract This project sought to examine the effects of live music as an intervention to improve the well-being of people with dementia who had been admitted to an acute dementia assessment ward following severe psychological and behavioural distress. The literature search revealed little into the use of a group of musicians, none using a wind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn), and few studies involving a group of wind musicians and people with dementia experiencing severe distress. Measurements were taken using Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) and the Bradford well-being and ill-being profiles. Data collected from individuals with dementia, carers, staff and players provided evidence to show that intervention using live group music had a positive effect upon individuals’ well-being. The number of participants was restricted to twelve – the capacity of the assessment unit – and there was no control group. This pilot study could lead to a larger, controlled research study. The interesting findings were observations of well-being in favour of ill-being in responses to the live music interventions. The precise mechanisms responsible for these affects appear complex, relating to both the musical and socially therapeutic dimensions of the intervention. An important secondary finding related to the positive effect of the whole process on musicians’ development in person-centred skills appropriate for working with people with severe dementia. The project also extended ward staff’s facilitation skills encouraging individuals’ participation in a new situation with a group of players on the ward.