clinical focus
Bump up the jams
A music therapy project is aiming
to improve the quality of life of
people living with dementia.
Felicity Baker interviewed by Megan Tran
U
niversity of Melbourne researchers
will work with aged care residents
and their carers to undertake
the world’s largest music therapy trial,
with a focus on depression among those
with dementia.
Head of music therapy Felicity Baker
says the power of this type of therapy
can stimulate the recall of memories
associated with happy times, known as
the ‘reminiscence bump’.
26 agedcareinsite.com.au
“Music is connected to memories, which
is how the residents are able to sing along
to the lyrics and, in some cases, start
moving when music begins,” Baker says.
“These memories might include a first
love, a wedding, a graduation or any key
milestones from their life. Music can really
help promote a sense of identity, a sense
of self-esteem.”
The three-year study started at Bupa’s
Berwick and Greensborough homes and
will extend to an additional eight Bupa
homes and involve 500 participants from
38 other aged care homes across Australia.
An additional 1000 participants will be
recruited from five countries in Europe.
“Those involved in the Music Interventions
for Depression and Dementia in the Elderly
(MIDDEL) study will receive group music
therapy, recreational choir singing, a
combination of both group and choir therapy
or their usual in-home care,” Baker says.
Trevor Heydon, whose mother Josie is
participating at the Greensborough home,
says he has already seen changes in her
levels of interaction.
“I’ve sat in on some of the sessions and
I can tell it has improved her mood. She
is opening herself up and getting around
more instead of just sitting in the room,”
Heydon says.
The project has been funded by a
$1 million grant from the National Health
and Medical Research Council.
Aged Care Insite spoke with Baker to
learn more about the program.
ACI: Where did this idea come from?
FB: The project idea came from
discussions I had with colleagues overseas.
This particular trial is an international one,
and I’m heading up the Australian part
of the trial. The idea came about from
discussing the challenges of working in the
aged care setting in general, and the need
to understand and measure the effect in a
systemised way, in a very large trial.
What’s involved in the trial?
What we’re doing is examining the effect
that a number of different conditions have
on the behavioural and psychological