None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aims to see if a group therapeutic songwriting intervention is able to support community-dwelling people with dementia and their family carers. Based on previous research, it is anticipated that group songwriting will have a positive effect on participants living with dementia and their family caregivers' relationship quality, social connection, health and wellbeing. For this study, participants with dementia and their family carers will participate together. Participants in this single group pre-post design will be asked to complete health/wellbeing questionnaires at weeks 0 and 13. All participants will attend 6 x weekly 1hr group songwriting sessions and participate in an interview regarding their experience of the intervention.
Interventions
This trial investigates the effects and experience of a therapeutic group songwriting intervention for people with dementia and their family caregivers living in the community. The therapeutic group songwriting process involves the shared creation of lyrics and music to address psychosocial, emotional, cognitive and communication needs within a supportive therapeutic relationship. The intervention may include other support activities and music therapy processes, such as warm-up activities, famil
This trial investigates the effects and experience of a therapeutic group songwriting intervention for people with dementia and their family caregivers living in the community. The therapeutic group songwriting process involves the shared creation of lyrics and music to address psychosocial, emotional, cognitive and communication needs within a supportive therapeutic relationship. The intervention may include other support activities and music therapy processes, such as warm-up activities, familiar song-singing, music listening, reminiscence, discussion, and recording the song. Materials will include musical instruments and recording equipment (e.g. microphone, laptop). This intervention includes 6 x 1hr songwriting sessions, once/week for 6 weeks. Sessions will be delivered face to face in a small group setting (3-4 dyads/6-8 people in each group) and will take place at community centres made available through associated Aged and Community Care providers. Sessions will be delivered by a Registered Music Therapist (RMT) with experience facilitating and researching therapeutic group songwriting with people with dementia and family caregivers of people with dementia in community settings. While a protocol has been developed to guide the six sessions of group therapeutic songwriting, a person-centred, experience-based model of songwriting facilitated by a registered music therapist will allow for the intervention to be personalised to the needs of individuals and the groups of individuals. The music therapist will follow a pre-developed protocol and session guidelines. Each session will be video recorded. These recordings will be used to check that procedures have been followed for the purposes of fidelity.
Sponsors
University of Melbourne
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
All participants are required to have functional hearing and speak English in order to be eligible to participate in the study. Inclusion criteria for participants with dementia includes: 1) aged 60 years or older; and 2) a diagnosis of probable/possible dementia consistent with the DSM-V, or the National Institute on Ageing/Alzheimer’s Association (NIA/AA) diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer’s disease12 as assessed by a geriatrician, neuropsychologist or other health professionals. Inclusion criteria for family caregivers includes: 1) aged 18 years and older; and 2) the primary non-professional caregiver responsible for the day to day needs of their loved one living with dementia (e.g. spouse, child, relative, friend).
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria includes participants who are: 1) non-English speaking; 2) have non-functional hearing; and 3) are <18 years old if the family caregiver or <60 years old if the person with dementia. Additionally, people with dementia will be excluded if they do not have a diagnosis of probable/possible dementia consistent with DSM-V or NIA/AA guidelines. Caregivers will be excluded if they are not the primary caregiver for the person with dementia, or if they are paid in their caregiving role.
Outcome results
None listed