“I’d rather have music”:
Impacts of music for
people with dementia
approaching the end of life
and their carers
Claire Garabedian, PhD Candidate
Background
Study Objectives
To explore the effects of live and recorded
individualised music on older people
who are frail and have dementia, and to
add to the knowledgebase regarding
effective research methods with this
under researched and difficult to access
population.
Realist Evaluation
‘What works for
whom in what
circumstances’?
Pawson R Tilley N (1997), Realist
Evaluation. SAGE Publications,
London-Thousand Oaks-New Delhi
VIDEO Analysis
Thick Description
Nvivo
 PIECE-dem
PIECE-dem
Preliminary findings
Resident Participants:
 Frequency vs Length of interventions
 Recognition/Non-recognition of music
 Special attention
 Faster upbeat tunes/Slower sad tunes
 Empowerment
 Live music/Recorded music
Resident Participants
Aileen:
I would
beasitting
and watching
Maggie:
This isjust
like
dream!...
I’ve sat for
the television.
ages you know downstairs, and nothing,
nothing
doing,
and
I
come
up
to
my
Claire: You’d rather be watching the
bedroom,
and
a
musician
comes
television?
in!...Somebody’s here playing all this
music for
a music!
lovely dream.
Aileen:
No!me…Just
I’ve ratherlike
have
Carer Participants:
 Respite/Over-vigilance
 Pleasure/Disappointment
 Perspective
 Music selection
 Live music/Recorded music
Carer Participants
Maire:...I just I think that probably it has
Gavin:
She’salmost
enjoyed
it anyway...amazed
proven
that
although most of at
thethe
Calum:
I was
quite
pleasantly
surprised
by is
Donna:
The
music
sessions
gave
me
a
break
memory
she’s
got
for
the
songs...
the
memory
time he doesn’t communicate much, but that
herapositive
reactions
through
it allbecause
because,
chance
to
make
conversation
aand
queer
thing
isn’t
it...it’s
been
years
since
when the music starts to play you canshe’s
you
know...sometimes
she
can
befirst
pretty
otherwise
it’s
hard
work
with
her...
ever
heard
these
tunes...well
for
the
obviously see that there is obviouslytwo
grumpy
and,
and negative
about
things.
three
notes
or
strokes
of
the
fiddle
she’s
something, you know like it’s switched joining
on in
in...
his brain...
Engagement:
 Shared experience
 Level of engagement
 Touch
 Verbal interaction
 Reminiscing
 Live music/Recorded music
Engagement
Claire:
And
did
you
notice
any
differences
in
Tommy: ...at times I think we almost played a
the
wayofyou
two
interacted
when
to
game
‘spot
that
tune’!...and
welistening
had other
the
music?
things to talk about...because when you’re
not there
visit to Aileen
is fairly...it’s
Jean:
Well Iatouched
her a lot
more... about
the family and what I’ve been doing and what
Claire:
Whendoing
was that?
she’s been
and what she’s been eating
and what’s
beenwas
happening
andiseverything’s
Jean:
When she
saying ‘this
like a
fine and
then
I smile and
I go away...
This
dream’
and
I touched
her hand
and said
‘this
was,
we
had
other
things
to
talk
about.
is for you’.
Staff
Morven:...There’s days when she does get
upset that it can be quite hard to bring her
around. So I think knowing that, with the
music, can help the carers, and that can
help care planning for everybody.
...In what circumstances...
Public vs. Private Settings:
Common Room
Private Bedroom
Barriers
 Ethics: Access
 Inclusion criterion
 Dissemination to care home staff
 Relationship between resident and and
carer
 Scheduling
 Unnecessary interruptions
“...No matter what happens, it
cannot be lost...you have
opened the doorway...”
– Care home manager
Questions?
THANK YOU!
[email protected]