Music Intervention With Reminiscence Therapy and Reality Orientation for Elderly People With Alzheimer Disease Living in a Nursing Home: A Pilot Study

Journal

Holistic Nursing Practice

Year

2018

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an 8-week nursing intervention consisting of 2 weekly sessions of music and reminiscence therapy together with the application of reality orientation techniques. Our expectation at the onset of the study was that listening to music that was familiar and connected with the memory of past events would, due to the music's emotional impact, stimulate memory associations, leading, in turn, to a positive effect on depression and anxiety in people living with dementia. We carried out a pre-/posttest intervention design with a sample of 19 patients divided into 2 groups-a 10-patient control group and a 9-patient intervention group-in a nursing home in Spain. Goldberg tests for depression and anxiety have been assessed at baseline and postintervention in both groups. Our results confirm the valuable effect of music therapy and reminiscence therapy together with reality orientation techniques on depression in patients with mild Alzheimer disease. Our study may constitute an important starting point for further research on nursing interventions based on the provision of music and/or reminiscence therapy together with reality orientation techniques that is implemented on a daily basis in nursing homes.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Alzheimer's and Related Dementias; Anxiety; Cognitive Abilities; Depression; Elderly; Long-Term Care Facility; Memory; Music Listening; Music Therapy; Neurodegenerative Disorders; Psychological Outcomes; Receptive Music Methods; Song Reminiscence

Indexed Terms

Elderly; Elderly; Alzheimer Disease; Depression; Nursing Homes; Orientation; Pilot Projects; Spain

Study Type

Quasi-Experimental Study; Quantitative Methods

PubMed ID

29210877

Document Type

Article

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