As a board-certified music therapist who has spent years working with older adults who’re residing with dementia, I’ve witnessed first-hand how the senior residing trade struggles with ongoing workforce challenges.
Staffing shortages are stretching caregivers and exercise administrators past their limits. With extra residents — particularly these residing with dementia — requiring specialised care, directors are desperately trying to find options that may scale back the burden on workers members whereas nonetheless offering significant, participating actions for his or her residents.
By my work founding Bridgetown Music Remedy, I’ve developed what I consider is an answer to handle these challenges: specialised therapeutically impressed music designed for care group settings. Though it isn’t thought-about formal music remedy, I’ve infused my data, expertise and expertise as a music therapist into this program.
I’ve discovered that therapy-inspired music will be tailored to create particular advantages for each workers members and residents in reminiscence care settings. For this reason I created Music with Alexis, a digital music engagement program for senior residing communities with reminiscence care, providing a curated expertise for older adults residing with dementia.
The ability of music in dementia care can’t be overstated. All through my profession, I’ve seen how music enhances cognitive operate, elevates temper and improves socialization amongst older adults, particularly these residing with Alzheimer’s illness and different types of dementia. Not like some leisure actions, music prompts each space of the mind. It has the distinctive skill to faucet into long-term reminiscence, sparking pleasure and engagement even in people who battle with different types of communication.
“I’ve seen firsthand how a lot music can brighten the day for our residents,” Erin Coran, supervisor of group life at persevering with care retirement / life plan group Vincentian in Pittsburgh, lately shared with me.
And Viridiana Ramirez of Ivy Dwelling has informed me that residents “mild up” once they hear my voice, and the structured engagement brings happiness to the group.
One of many platform’s best strengths, for my part, is its flexibility. Whether or not it’s a person tune requested by a resident or a extra in-depth 20- to-60-minute therapeutic music session, it gives numerous choices to maintain residents engaged. This “plug-and-play” nature permits senior residing communities to give attention to what issues most — resident well-being — with out sacrificing high quality or overburdening workers.
Each session has been designed with the purpose of assembly the precise cognitive and emotional wants of older adults, notably these residing with dementia. By devices and acquainted tunes, we create deeper engagement and connection. As Ramirez notes, “Alexis actually understands the way to join with our residents, and so they really feel that power. It’s wonderful to look at their faces mild up.”
As somebody dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults residing with dementia, I consider progressive options similar to dementia-friendly music applications supply a method ahead, one full of music, connection and hope.
However as Erin of Vincentian mentioned, “However with out entry to a constant, well-structured program, it’s tough to take care of that engagement. When residents begin to lose curiosity or develop into bored, it may be disheartening for the complete group.”
And Erin isn’t the one one who has informed me of emotions of frustration and defeat when residents develop into disengaged or stressed throughout actions.
I perceive the boundaries many senior residing communities face in providing high quality music applications. Price range constraints, lack of know-how, and confusion over choosing the right music applications typically forestall communities from absolutely integrating dementia-friendly music into their day by day actions. With these constraints in thoughts, Music with Alexis gives a subscription-based therapeutic music platform with themed periods, versatile in size and supply, permitting exercise administrators to tailor content material to their group’s schedule and preferences.
Even the workers members really feel extra relaxed realizing they’ve a dependable, skilled program to rely on, Viridiana of Ivy Dwelling mentioned.
By the subscription mannequin, members have 24/7 entry to an on-demand video library of greater than 300 therapeutic music periods. Communities can start utilizing this system instantly. Free trials and versatile membership choices can be found.
Exercise professionals like Erin inform me: “It’s modified the way in which we strategy resident engagement. We’ve gone from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered, realizing that we will ship significant, joyful experiences to our residents — each single day.”
Alexis Baker, MT-BC, is a board-certified music therapist and authorized dementia care practitioner and the founding father of Bridgetown Music Remedy. Baker created Music with Alexis through the COVID-19 pandemic when she noticed a necessity for distant music engagement options for remoted older adults. To be taught extra about implementing the digital music engagement program in a senior residing group, individuals can schedule a complimentary session at www.BridgetownMT.com, e mail data@BridgetownMT.com or name (503) 974-6729.
The opinions expressed in every McKnight’s Senior Dwelling market column are these of the writer and are usually not essentially these of McKnight’s Senior Dwelling.
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