Music in Dementia Care Essay

Dementia is a syndrome caused by several illnesses leading to a progressive decline in multiple functions of the body such as a weakening in reasoning, recall, communication skills, and the capability to carry out day to day tasks. Dementia further causes a series of psychological and behavioral symptoms like aggression, psychosis, depression, and wandering of the mind. The developments are independent problems that may occur at any stage of the illness and create complications regarding care provided (Thomas, 2017). Dementia is believed to be as a result of chemical and structural changes in the brain contributing to the death of the brain tissue. Alzheimer's disease is a term commonly used to group all the forms of dementia. The cortex or cerebrum is the most significant part of the brain, and it is located at the front and top of the head (Stewart, 2015).

The frontal gyrus is in the cortex. The frontal gyrus impacts music in such a way that it assists in recalling memories to recall music sounds and lyrics when they are sung or heard (Bergert, 2013). The motor cortex located in the cerebrum is essential in controlling body movements when playing an instrument by processing sound and visual cues. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that the dorsolateral frontal cortex is activated when hearing music to bring up pictures related to the sound, maintain the song in working memory as well as create a vision when playing the music (Bergert, 2013). Music has the power to control emotions. Music can make you feel sad or even happy, excited and pumped up (Wortmann, 2014).

Music can cause the brain to release a feel-good chemical know as dopamine, especially when the music gets to an individual uniquely. Music provides the same bursts of happiness that sex, eating a piece of chocolate and even certain drugs. Music manipulates the feeling; if an individual listens to music with a fast tempo and a major, it will make them feel happy. Furthermore, the social and health care spending on dementia for 2017/18 is higher than; chronic heart disease, cancer and stroke combined which totals to £22. 3 billion. Delaying the onset of dementia could have a tremendous effect on the amount of money that could be saved. If the start of Alzheimer's disease is postponed for five years, approximately £100 billion could be saved between 2022 and 2035 (Bowell & Bamford, 2017).

It is estimated that only 5% of the care home provides exceptional quality music and arts (Bowell & Bamford, 2017). Groups such as ‘Come Singing' located in Norfolk, offer therapeutic singing groups for individuals living with memory loss(Garland, Beer, Eppingstall, & O'Connor, 2013). Another group ‘Turtle Song’ provides a series of 10-week projects for individuals living with dementia. Within the project, the individuals are given the support of musicians and music students to create their songs with lyrics to accompany them. This music is recorded on DVDs, and the participants have the liberty to take them home. The Manchester Camerata's ‘Music in Mind’ project was created to use music to promote a better quality of life for individuals living with dementia. Therefore, for dementia patients music needs should be met appropriately to avoid cases of agitation.

Research suggests that having the ability to play a musical instrument could be a contributing factor to an individual being able to maintain their cognitive function. Evidence suggests that learning and eventually playing an instrument could potentially prevent the onset of dementia (Hansen, 2017). A study goes on to indicate that music could be essential in protecting an individual against cognitive impairment and dementia. Individuals who took part in the playing of an instrument in their adulthood life were 36% less likely to suffer from cognitive impairment and dementia (Graff-Radford, 2018). The playlists created to assist in the agenda of ensuring that the music is person-centered as well as providing a source of enjoyment and comfort for individuals with dementia. It is noted that dementia patients maintained the clearest of memories for music they heard and enjoyed between teenage-hood to early adulthood.

The development of wearable technologies such as FitBit can be used to monitor a person's response to individual songs, and thus be can be an essential tool in creating the most significant playlist. The FitBit technology will enhance the playlist of life because it will assist accurately pick songs based on their positive response to the songs. Another group Soundtrack of My Life provides an opportunity for dementia patients to write stories revolving around the favorite tunes of dementia patients. For instance, the Music for the Moment project is because of the collaboration between Westminster Arts, Royal Academy of Music and Wigmore Hall. Performances at these projects are by music students from the respective collaborators. Dementia patients have the liberty of enjoying operas by Opera Scotland, thus giving them an opportunity to experience such performances happily.

It has been established that these community-based arrangements are not restricted to hosting dementia patients alone, individuals who do not have dementia are highly encouraged to attend. The community-based events can attract individuals of all generations, inclusive of those with other mental illnesses other than just dementia(Hansen, 2017). It is likely that their cognitive functions will decline, and therefore enhancing their personhood is crucial to protecting a patient’s general wellbeing (Särkämö, et al. In 2015, Mitchell G and Agnelli J had to carry out a study to establish the difference in how the personhood of a dementia patient is affected by the form of treatment they receive from the nurses at the nursing homes (Mitchell & Agnelli, 2015). The two variations of procedures were malignant social psychology and positive person work (Nordberg & Hoffman, 2014).

Malignant psychology involves a range of behaviors that undermine the wellbeing and personhood of a person with dementia (Swaffer, 2014). Kitwood highlights that the undermining treatment often occurs because of lack of specialized education amongst the professionals and not due to malicious intent. The case study shows David and the nurse engage in an actual conversation rather than the earlier back and forth sort of engagement (Mitchell & Agnelli, 2015). The behaviors associated with positive person work are essential to the provision of personalized care for dementia patients (Qazi, 2014). As per the case study, the examples of positive behavior include collaboration, recognition, play, and facilitation. The way nurses treat dementia patients is essential because they are role models to how the rest of the society will handle them.

Family, as well as members of the public, will replicate the treatment based on what they observe from the nurses (Chauhan, 2018). More research needs to be done in the area of delaying the onset of dementia, especially with a focus on slowing the admission of dementia patients to medical care homes. Physically aggressive behavior is likely in dementia patients. Music has proven to be an intermediary in significantly reducing aggressive behavior in dementia patients. An experiment conducted by Clark M. E in 1998 assigned subjects to two groups, one without music and the other with music they liked. The improvements found were in their mood and general engagement in daily activities. The full effect of the therapy was observed two months after the treatment was concluded.

In conclusion, the music of dementia is still in the stages of research and more is being done for the patients to gain the full benefits of what personalized music has to offer (Bowell & Bamford, 2017). Customized music has been seen to have the ability to prevent the onset of dementia, retaining speech and language, overcoming anxiety and depression, enhancing the quality of life, positively impacting caregivers, and could potentially put an end to a lifetime of care (Hansen, 2017). As beneficial as the treatment may be, improvements should be made in specific areas such as funding, recognition in the therapeutic potential of personalized music, confidence belief and enthusiasm to realize the full impact of music in the management of dementia. cortex. 004 Bowell , S.

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