Music Therapy and Skill Sharing to Meet Psychosocial Needs for Persons With Advanced Dementia

Abstract

In advanced stages of dementia, the person experiences increasing difficulties in understanding and in being understood, and it becomes increasingly difficult to communicate and to engage socially. This may further lead to symptoms of agitation. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), memory for music can be preserved and therefore music therapy can be beneficial. This chapter provides insights into how individual music-therapy sessions take place with people with AD, and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and skill sharing. A psychosocial approach to music therapy is described and illustrated through a case example, demonstrating how music may facilitate safety, spontaneous play, improvisation and mutual interaction. The case contributes to the understanding of how person-attuned use of musical interactions are implemented and can be transferred from individual music therapy to daily care. The importance of knowledge creation and skill sharing between professionals is highlighted.