"Positive Effect of "Familiar Music" on Demented Elderly: Intervention Taking Account of Narrative"
SAKASHITA Masayuki
last update: 20151225
Positive Effect of "Familiar Music" on Demented Elderly: Intervention Taking Account of Narrative
SAKASHITA Masayuki
Abstract:
In this paper, we report a practical study on the importance of client-specific narrative from an expert's ethical viewpoint against the background that evidence of the efficacy of music therapy is being collected in order to establish the expertise for national qualification. We discuss interaction via music with demented elderly who played the harmonica, and point out the significance in the feedback of musical experience or narrative in the care process. Target client A was an 85-year old male who used to engage in the advertising display business and medical sales. He was in care need grade V. He has long enjoyed playing the harmonica. He even entertained soldiers by playing the harmonica during World War II. We report the process by which he recovered his confidence and self-fulfillment after a total of 108 sessions of music therapy. We also show how the interaction between the client and therapist changed the client's narrative through his "familiar music," and how the care process was improved by taking account of the narrative.
Keywords: music therapy, elderly dementia, familiar song, narrative, reminiscent elicitation
REV: 20151225