Experiences of group musical intervention for people with dementia

Research has evidenced the benefit of music intervention on biological, psychological and cognitive symptoms of dementia. However, there is limited literature focusing on the impact on communication.

This study allowed a conceptual understanding to be built around communication; how people with late stage dementia may express themselves non-verbally and interact with others in response to a live music group over time. In this qualitative study visual grounded theory was used to analyse data generated from eight hour-long weekly sessions (the intervention) and one hour-long recorded music listening session. It was theorized that the live music group facilitated a multisensory communicative environment allowing for verbal and non-verbal communicative actions, social interactional components and agency to develop. The developing grounded theory supports Kitwood’s (1997) theory of personhood and relational theories of dementia care. The theory has implications for dementia care, Music for Life groups and methodology of future research. Ideas for future research are suggested including a larger scale study and a widening of the location and characteristics of the sample.