Benefits of Music Therapy: Parkinson’s Disease and Depression case example
We are often asked: how can music therapy help?
…the truth is, this can be a challenging question to answer as music therapy can benefit individuals in different ways. One of the unique aspects of music therapy within the allied health landscape is the ability to work on a diverse range of wellbeing and quality of life goals, often simultaneously. Music therapy is evidenced to benefit:
Cognition;
Behaviour;
Mood and emotions;
Physical functioning;
Mental health;
Psychosocial participation and wellbeing; and
Communication,
For people with a wide range of health needs.
Here is a case example from our home-based music therapy in Perth to help you consider how music therapy could benefit you or someone you love / care for.
Meet Brad*
Brad was a man in his late 80’s living with Parkinsons disease and Depression at a residential aged care home. He had a strong sense of humour and is a proud man who has owned his own business and raised a family. Increasingly, he was reluctant to engage in social situations, found it difficult to articulate and project his words (be heard), did not feel safe walking and expressed being “too slow” and “useless”, and he reported feeling little joy in life often saying “what’s the point?”. Understandably, this was hard for Brad’s family to see and they wondered if participating in individual music therapy might enhance his wellbeing and quality of life.
Working weekly with Brad for 7 months he experienced multiple benefits from music therapy:
Cognitively, his wife and daughters reported he was more alert and focused after music therapy sessions;
His mood was noticeably improved with him smiling, joking and laughing in sessions;
Using neurologic music therapy strategies, his walking before more safe, functional and confident;
He began to participate in group music activities at the home and socialise with other residents;
Symptoms of depression were reported to be less by his family and care givers and he was more willing to get out of bed; and
He was able to project his voice and clearly be heard by family, friends and care staff.
Often these goals were addressed simultaneously, which is unique to music therapy due to the whole brain activation music can stimulate. As Brad’s needs evolved and at the end of his life music therapy supported his physiological palliative needs (anxiety, regulating breathing, terminal restlessness and pain) and his whole family, who often reported feeling more able to cope when visiting during music therapy sessions. At Brad’s funeral the music from his music therapy sessions featured and songs he had written became a legacy for his family to remember him by.
*pseudonym used to maintain participant identity.
If you think music therapy may benefit you, or someone you know, reach out. We offer home-based individual music therapy sessions across the entire Perth metropolitan area (Joondalup to Mandurah / Cottesloe to Midland).
