Music Attuned Technology for Care via eHealth – MATCH (Study 3.3)

Residential Aged Care (RAC) Staff (care staff or carer) working with residents living with Dementia (PwD or residents) will receive training (MATCH Music Training Program) in the strategic use of music to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). (a) The training will be administered online via a mobile application (MATCH App). (b) The training is composed of five modules, lasting 2.5 hours. (c) Each of the five modules (‘Relaxation’, ‘Mood Regulation’, ‘Engagement and Connection’, ‘Supporting Personal Care’, and ‘Movement/Exercise’) comprises instructional and demonstration videos, guides and a sample music playlist. Care staff will be instructed on how to choose music, engage the PwD in daily activities, create opportunities for meaningful dialogue with the PwD, and learn clues about the PwD’s positive and negative responses to music. The activities to be taught comprise (i) singing familiar/preferred music followed by carer-facilitated discussions about the meaning of the songs for the PwD and significant others and any associated memories; (ii)movement/exercise (e.g. upper body and arms imitating familiar dance movements to music) to assist in regulating mood; and (iii) listening to familiar/preferred relaxing or enlivening music dependent upon present at the time to assist in regulating mood. After watching the training videos, care staff will be guided to try some methods learned with the residents. The care staff are instructed to use music purposefully when the resident presents dementia symptoms during the 8-week trial period. Researchers will contact care staff weekly to support them in using strategies and how they are progressing with using the music or any adverse event and answer any questions they may have. The mobile app will provide access to music and record information of use for each carer and resident and prompt impact evaluation to keep track of the effects of each music session. This information will inform the carer of the progress of using music for each resident.