Making a University Community More Dementia Friendly Through Participation in an Intergenerational Choir

Journal

Dementia (London)

Year

2019

Volume

18

Issue

45115

First Page

2556

Last Page

2575

Abstract

A dementia friendly community is one that is informed about dementia, respectful and inclusive of; people with dementia and their families, provides support, promotes empowerment, and fosters; quality of life. This study presents data from four cohorts of undergraduate college students and; people with dementia and their family members, using an intergenerational choir as the process; through which to begin to create a dementia friendly community. This was accomplished by breaking; down the stereotypes and misunderstandings that young adults have about people with dementia,; thus allowing their commonalities and the strengths of the people living with dementia to become; more visible. Data were gathered for each cohort of students through semi-structured open-ended; questions on attitudes about dementia and experiences in the choir, collected at three points over 10; weeks of rehearsals. Data about their experiences in the choir were collected from each cohort of; people with dementia and their family members through a focus group. Results across all four cohorts; showed in the students: changed attitudes, increased understanding about dementia and the lived; experience, reduced dementia stigma, and the development of meaningful social connections. People; with dementia and their family members expressed feelings of being part of a community

Music and Health Institute Terms

Alzheimer's and Related Dementias; Community Music Experience; Elderly; Interpersonal Relations; Neurodegenerative Disorders; Quality of Life; Recreative Music Methods; Young Adults

Indexed Terms

Elderly; Attitude; Cohort Studies; Dementia; Family; Focus Groups; Intergenerational Relations; Interpersonal Relations; Residence Characteristics; Stereotyped Behavior; Students; Universities; Alzheimer’s disease; creative arts; dementia friendly community; dementia stigma; intergenerational

Study Type

Case Study; Qualitative Methods

Disciplines

Neurology

PubMed ID

29338329

Document Type

Article

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