What is it about?
For many older people in care homes, their quality of life is poor, due to their experience of pain, anxiety and depression. This study shows that when participants listened regularly to music that was tailored to their personal preferences, there was a significant decline in each of those conditions. Not everyone benefited to the same extent. Those who considered music to be important to them and who were frequent listeners, benefited the most.
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Why is it important?
Few studies have investigated the use of music for care home residents. The use of an effective intervention that makes no cognitive or physical demands on the participants is of great value. In addition, the intervention requires little training to implement and is low in cost. It can therefore contribute to an improved quality of life for people nearing the end of their lives.
Perspectives
Research in care homes is demanding and at risk of high attrition rates. However, it is important to investigate ways of bringing some relief to the conditions of decline and frailty that are so prevalent amongst care home residents. This study showed that a simple music intervention can bring some relief to individuals suffering from pain, depression and anxiety. This could easily be replicated by care home staff or family members.
Fiona Costa
University of Roehampton
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The effect of regular listening to preferred music on pain, depression and anxiety in older care home residents, Psychology of Music, June 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0305735617703811.
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