5 Things for Nursing Home Directors to Know About Music Therapy

Five Things for Nursing Home Directors to Know About Music TherapyNursing Home Directors, Activity Directors/Coordinators, children of aging parents, children of aging grandparents…this article is especially for you! If you’ve heard of music therapy but have never considered its use in older adult populations, especially in memory care, give this a read! 

• Music Therapy is Cost Effective

We often hear nursing home directors/coordinators get excited about the thought of bringing in music therapy as a service for their residents. However, this excitement quickly dissipates when they think of their budget. It’s important to note that music therapy can be carried out in group settings as well as in individual sessions, making it cost-effective. Particularly in groups of ten or less, the therapist is still able to really focus on individuals and connect with them. Researchers have claimed that music therapy is ‘economical’ as a non-pharmacological, noninvasive intervention without side effects (Moreno-Morales, 2020). Choosing music therapy as a noninvasive alternative intervention for residents can be the first step in the direction towards obtaining music therapy for your care center. What is the second step? Collaboration! Are there unique ways in which the families and administrators of your center can work together to minimize the cost of music therapy for all involved? Are there trust funds that families can tap into to help cover costs? How about scholarships through fundraising events held by the center? 

• Music Therapy Improves Residents’ Quality of Life

One systematic review found that many writers agree that music has been used effectively with dementia patients, and showed that, “people with dementia enjoy music, and their ability to respond to it is preserved even when verbal communication is no longer possible” (Moreno-Morales, 2020). In one study, the Cornell–Brown Scale for Quality of Life in Dementia was used, and results showed that quality of life improved overall after the music therapy sessions concluded, though the results were not long-lasting and did not still show positive effects at the 6 month post-check with the same residents (Moreno-Morales, 2020). This shows the necessity of music therapy to help improve these client’s lives, but also that it is vital to be carried out on a regular basis, such as with a music therapist that holds group sessions weekly, monthly, or some other short-term interval.  

• Music Therapy Reduces Depression

In a study found in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, authors studied the linear effects of stress, depression, and anxiety on cortisol levels. Their results found that music therapy significantly lowers depression and anxiety levels (de la Rubia Ortí et al., 2018). Because music has long been an effective way to address emotional states or express them, it’s an important consideration for implementation with residents who need outlets to express their feelings. In addition, the group aspect of music therapy and the element of fun and leisure can help improve mood and decrease loneliness for these residents. Owner of A Suite Sound and board-certified music therapist Crystal Lile states, “It is fascinating for me to repeatedly observe a client light up and independently participate in a group session – even more so than in their private session held right beforehand.” 

• Music Motivates Movement

Music Therapists often include movement activities into their sessions, and music is such a great motivator for physical activity! If you’ve never noticed before, try doing a workout or deep cleaning your house without music. It’s much less fun, and arguably way more difficult! A research review studying the effects of music and music preference on exercise responses states that there were, “increases in arousal and neural activity while listening to music,” and that, “listening to music prior to and during exercise has been shown to increase motivation and effort” (Ballmann). Adding movement into any nursing home activity is helpful for residents and directors as well, as many residents may be sedentary for much of the day. Music therapy specifically can address more than just the physical aspect with movement. It can also increase rapport, encourage healthy relationships between residents and the therapist, and even involve family members for a fun bonding experience. 

• Music Therapy Enhances Cognition

The Alzheimer’s Association has compiled information about this subject, which states that, “for people in the early stages of dementia, music therapy can help maintain cognitive levels and enhance overall brain functioning” (Cramer). In addition, they found that:Many Alzheimer's patients can remember and sing songs even in advanced stages, long after they've stopped recognizing names and faces. Dementia care homes often use music as recreation, since it brings patients pleasure. But beyond the entertainment value, there's growing evidence that listening to music can also help stimulate seemingly lost memories and even help maintain some cognitive functioning.Lile also shares, “I have personally observed a nursing home client of mine hum or sing along to a familiar song despite not being able to verbally carry on an in-depth or long conversation with me.” It’s incredibly powerful the way music can access parts of the brain that are still firing, even when some speech areas are no longer active. These are just five reasons that music therapy should be used with this population! We have seen first hand many more benefits as well, and have received this statement in a glowing review from one of A Suite Sound’s clients: The sessions:

• give a sense of belonging and community and decrease feelings of isolation

• provide an opportunity for self expression with rhythm instruments and props

• improve memory and language with the cues from a melody line

• stimulate thinking about the environment (changing seasons, holidays for example)

-Marlea Gruver What an honor it is to work with this population! If you/your family’s nursing facility/home doesn’t currently offer music therapy, this is a great document to take to them to ask and advocate for music therapy services. If you yourself are a Nursing Home Director/Activities Coordinator and your facility doesn’t offer music therapy, we implore you to consider these points and to have a board-certified music therapist come and work with your residents!For further information regarding services in the greater Waxahachie area, A Suite Sound would love to connect with you! Contact Crystal at crystal@asuitesound.com or by phone/text (972) 375-0561. Music therapists - can you name more?Leave us a comment below! References: Ballmann C. G. (2021). The Influence of Music Preference on Exercise Responses and Performance: A Review. Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology, 6(2), 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk6020033 Cramer, Luciana. Alzheimer’s Association (n.d.). Music therapy enhancing cognition. Caregiver Tips & Tools (Number 9). https://www.alz.org/media/cacentral/dementia-care-9-music-therapy-enhancing-cognition.pdf  de la Rubia Ortí, J. E., García-Pardo, M. P., Iranzo, C. C., Madrigal, J. J. C., Castillo, S. S., Rochina, M. J., & Gascó, V. J. P. (2018). Does Music Therapy Improve Anxiety and Depression in Alzheimer's Patients?. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 24(1), 33–36. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2016.0346 Moreno-Morales, C., Calero, R., Moreno-Morales, P., & Pintado, C. (2020). Music Therapy in the Treatment of Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in medicine, 7, 160. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2020.00160