Music Therapy: A Novel Student Pharmacy Outreach to Manage Symptoms of Alzheimer's Dementia
Abstract
Patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD) often present with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which may include anxiety, depression, and agitation, leading to a decrease in quality of life. Nonpharmacologic methods are recommended as first-line therapy for reducing BPSD. The student chapter of ASCP at Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy has partnered with a local nursing facility to implement an active group music therapy (MT) outreach program to assist in management of BPSD. The program also evaluated the perceived effects of this outreach on students. In addition to having a profound impact on the residents, this outreach has also provided an excellent educational outlet for students to establish and practice skills in working with the AD patient population. In this article, we share our experiences with MT and provide education on how to implement MT outreach at your own institution or practice.