[Sounds that resonate: nursing home residents' experiences with singing bowls. An exploratory qualitative study].

Abstract

In nursing home care, attention to complementary care is increasing to support the quality of life in vulnerable residents. Singing bowl sessions are used to promote calm and comfort, yet residents' own perspectives remain underrepresented. This exploratory qualitative study examined how residents in a Dutch nursing home (two locations) experienced individual singing bowl sessions. Participatory observations were analysed inductively across 41 sessions involving 25 residents (59-97 years) with dementia and somatic conditions from 7 wards (3 psychogeriatric, 3 somatic and 1 rehabilitation). The sessions elicited predominantly positive responses, including those from residents with limited verbal communication. Four themes captured these experiences: emotional resonance, relaxation, connectedness and positive affect. Two recurring behaviours were observed: falling asleep and entering an inner state of calm. Attention span and environmental stimuli sometimes influenced these experiences. The findings suggest that singing bowl sessions align with residents' available capacities and can evoke meaningful experiences across emotional, spiritual and social dimensions of quality of life. This study shows that residents, even when communication is limited, are able to remain actively engaged in the experience in their own way. This calls for further research into which residents and circumstances are associated with different forms of response.