From the blues to power ballads, the soothing power of music has been documented over decades.
But now researchers in South Australia and Queensland say playing the right music to nursing home residents can lead to a reduction in dementia behaviours, drug use and while boosting carers' wellbeing.
The Harmony in the Bush study, led by Flinders University, took place across five aged care homes in Queensland and SA.
The 74 people living with dementia across the homes were each given individual music playlists - selected by staff, families and professional musicians - to listen to on a device with headphones for half an hour twice a day over eight weeks. After four weeks they also took part in group music sessions for two hours a week.
Rising levels of dementia is putting pressure on residential aged care facilities, including in rural and regional centres where nursing homes and staff are already under pressure.
The aim of the person-centred non-pharmacological intervention program was to see if music, rather than drugs, can help reduce agitation in residents and increase staff wellbeing.
More than one-third of the residents reported mild-severe pain and mild-severe sadness before the intervention.
Researchers said the focus on resident-centred therapies, rather than drug interventions, led to less dysfunctional behaviours and psychological symptoms in the trial group.
Lead author Vivian Isaac said another "important spinoff" was the significant reduction in stress levels reported by the 87 staff who took part in the study.
"The results show a statistically significant decline in aggressive behaviours, physically non- aggressive behaviours, and inappropriate verbal behaviour, hiding or hoarding - with a similar reduction in staff stress and resident safety when resources for specialised dementia care may be limited."
The Flinders Rural and Remote Health team also found a reduction in the use of psychotropic medications and inappropriate medications when comparing residents' medication charts data covering three months pre- and post- the Harmony in the Bush intervention.
In Australia, up to 70 per cent of nursing home residents have dementia with up to 90 per cent of residents with dementia suffering from psychiatric or behavioral symptoms.
"The study found that the model gives staff with a structure to learn person-centred practice over about one month to reduce the impact of behavioural and psychiatric symptoms of dementia," said Dr Isaac.
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Geraldine Cardozo
Features Editor at The Senior.
Features Editor at The Senior.
