Caregiver singing and music activities in dementia care. Professional caregivers experiences of its similar and different benefits in the care of persons with dementia – A qualitative study Passed
Wednesday May 15, 2024 12:03 - 12:15 G4
Moderator: Cecilia Larsdotter
Presenter: Lena Marmstål Hammar
Track: Life-limiting conditions
Background: Caregiver singing is an intervention aiming to facilitate care situations and is defined as when caregivers sing for or together with persons with dementia during care activities. In the literature, it is commonly addressed as a music activity rather than a care intervention. The aim was to describe caregivers’ experiences when using Caregiver singing and music in the care of persons with dementia. Method: Data were three focus group interviews with 12 professional caregivers for persons with dementia from three different residential settings. All caregivers had been taking training of the use of music and Caregiver singing and how to practice it in a person cantered spirit. The focus groups were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: the analysis resulted in two themes: 1) Caregiver singing ease the moment, increase interaction, and build companionship and were preferable to use during care activities where commonly responsive behaviours occurs, such as during toilet visits od showering. Caregiver singing were described as an intervention to increase cooperation, communication and increase moods. 2) Music activities as reminiscence reflects the person’s self which were used to increase socialization, increase energy and to increase moods and were more commonly used together with other residents such as during sing along activities, but also as background music during e.g. mealtimes. Regardless Caregiver singing or the use of music, the caregivers stressed the importance of person centeredness in choosing songs and music, as otherwise responsive behaviours may increase. Conclusion: Both Caregiver singing and music have positive influences and the results are sometimes intertwined. However, Caregiver singing are shown favourable to facilitate problematic caring situations and should be seen as a tool to increase cooperation and moods and decrease responsive behaviours such as resistance and aggression.
Seminar type
Pre-recorded + On-site
Lecture type
Orals
Conference
GCPCC
Authors
Lena Marmstål Hammar, Annica Lövenmark, Anna Swall
Lecturers
Cecilia Larsdotter Moderator
Professor, Head of department of nursing science
Sophiahemmet högskola
R.N, PhD, Professor in health care science and Head of department of nursing science in Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Main research areas span from macro to micro level perspective: public health, quality and equity aspects of place for care and death of people of old age and life limiting and/or chronic illness and aspects of person-centred palliative care and nursing.
Lena Marmstål Hammar Presenter
Professor in care sciences
Mälardalen University
I am a Registered nurse and professor in care sciences at Mälardalen University. My research focus is in care of older people, persons with dementia and their relatives.