45th Annual Australian Music Therapy Association Conference

Embedding music into dementia care: Exploring outcomes of building a sustainable music culture through an interstate collaboration of music therapy skills sharing with professional caregivers and its impact on quality of life for people living with dementia, their families and staff.

Presented at the 2019 Australian Music Therapy Association National conference by our Managing Director, Hayley and fellow Registered Music Therapist, Alexandra Morse. Their presentation shared insights and knowledge about building sustainable programs in residential aged care that embed music into the care, clinical and leisure & lifestyle services of an organisation.

The presentation provided the outcomes of a pilot program where carers, nurses and allied health professionals where trained by a Registered Music Therapist to use music in evidence based ways. Outcomes included:

• improved activities of daily living (ease, agreeableness of clients and enjoyment);

• reduced client confusion, distress and agitation;

• staff felt confident and capable to use music to modulate and regulate mood and emotions;

• improved connections between staff and clients, including staff reporting they got to know who their clients are;

• improved client and caregiver wellbeing and quality of life; and

• staff reported it made work more enjoyable.