Effects of Personalized Music on Caregivers of Older Adults With Dementia in the Community
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Music is a relatively low-cost and low-risk approach to managing the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study provided personalized music for 3 months to 25 older adults with dementia living in their homes with a caregiver and measured how the intervention affected the caregivers, including their perception of distress. METHODS: Caregivers completed the Caregiving Distress Scale (CDS) at pre- and postintervention and also participated in semistructured, in-depth, qualitative interviews. RESULTS: Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS; qualitative data were analyzed using NVivo. Paired t-tests revealed a decrease in total CDS scores (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Overall, caregivers believed that personalized music supported them and reduced stress.