Music therapy and dementia care practice in the United Kingdom: A British Association for Music Therapy membership survey

Abstract

The place of music therapy in the spectrum of musical interventions in dementia care needs to be better understood in light of the ‘supply’ and ‘demand’ of this provision. A semi-structured, online survey of British Association for Music Therapy members and affiliates was undertaken in summer 2017. It asked respondents to report on employment practice and settings, and experience in dementia-related music therapy. It asked about training received and given, and what barriers prevent wider availability of music therapy for people with dementia in the United Kingdom. Replies came from 188 people, 142 of whom were working with people with dementia. Most respondents reported working in the public or voluntary sector, but one in five was self-employed. Most (61%) were employed in residential care or hospital settings, for an average of 20 hours per week. The main factor that would increase music therapy provision in dementia care was seen as ‘greater awareness’ of music therapy amongst the general public and within the National Health Service. Nearly one-quarter (23%) thought that training and development could help increase provision. This was the largest survey undertaken to date of dementia practice by Music Therapists in the United Kingdom. It has implications for recruitment, professional development, promotion of the specialism and research.