Woodingford Lodge: Using Personalized Music to Enhance the Quality of Resident Care
Posted Le 5 octobre 2017
Music has the ability to transcend generation gaps, race and culture. It evokes emotions and feelings and enables Residents to reconnect with memories. At times when words have been absent, music has been able to awaken Residents to engage with others and come alive.
At Woodingford Lodge Long-Term Care Home, we are proud to have introduced the Music and Memory program, created by Dan Cohen to seek out alternative therapies, complementing the Residents’ plan of care.
What is the Music and Memory Program?
Music and Memory is a program that brings personalized music to the Residents via an iPod and head phones.
Personalized music playlists are created with Resident and Family input with the goal of helping Residents reconnect with themselves and others through music triggered memories. Residents can enjoy their music individually or splitter cables can be used so loved ones can share in the moment and experience.
What are the positive outcomes of this program?
Both qualitative and quantitative results were noted almost immediately. Through consistent applications of personalized music and diligent observation and documentation of mood, behaviours and ambiance of the Resident Home Areas, the overall results indicated:
- Reduced responsive behaviours
- Calmer Residents during care provisions
- Reduced boredom during the lull of activities throughout a day
BSO (Behavioral Supports Ontario) staff in collaboration with the Music and Memory team members have noted:
- An overall reduction in the use of PRN medications
- An improvement in depression rating scale (DRS) score
- Improvement on formal depression assessments (CSDD) scores
- Improvement in aggressive bahaviour scale (ABS) scores as well as
- A reduction of antipsychotic medication use
This program has improved quality of life, allowed Residents to express themselves and re-connect with those around them, engage in the Woodingford Lodge community, and has enhanced Resident Centred Care.
What is the link to fall prevention?
We expect that with a reduction in responsive behaviours, boredom and depression as well as a reduction in PRN and antipsychotic medications that a reduction in falls may take place.
This has not yet been researched by our BSO or Music and Memory team members, but we will be focusing more on this moving forward in 2018.
This article has been written by: Randi Williams (Manager) and Mark Dager (BSO RPN) with our thanks.
Are you interested in the Music and Memory Program? Contact rwilliams@oxfordcounty.ca and mdager@oxfordcounty.ca for more information.