Resources & references

This news story features the clinical work of Matthew Frederick, a music therapist in the United States. Matthew offers an individual music therapy session to an older adult with Alzheimer's disease and the client's spouse.

This article explains how a music therapy support group was created to relieve some of the strain on caregivers by allowing for greater emotional support through relationships with peers and professionals, and through the increase of meaningful interactions with their loved ones with dementia. The community-based MT support group has been replicated twice within the region, and is a promising model for other communities. 

In this video produced by Shaw TV, Jennifer Buchanan of JB Music Therapy in Calgary demonstrates the effectiveness and impact of music therapy on a 97 year old war veteran who has cognitive impairments due to dementia.

John Wallis, a Nordoff Robbins music therapist in the UK, works with Eddie, an older adult with Alzheimer’s disease showing how music therapy gives him the opportunity and means to step back into the present, reconnecting with past experiences and his own identity.

This research study explores various music experiences for adults with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease including music therapy, recreational music groups, music listening and more. It delineates the difference between each type of experience and explains which to choose when working with this population. Individuals with dementia, members of the public and music therapists also share their perspectives.

Agitation in nursing home residents with dementia leads to a decrease in quality of life and an increase in psychotropic medication, patient distress, and caregiver burnout. This study shows that after six weeks, music therapy reduced agitation disruptiveness and prevented medication increases for persons with moderate to severe dementia.

This interdisciplinary book guides the reader through principles, techniques, and exercises for incorporating music into grief counseling, with the end goal of further empowering the grieving person. Music has a unique ability to elicit a whole range of powerful emotional responses in people - even so far as altering or enhancing one's mood - as well as physical reactions. The book uses musical expression to help the bereaved find meaning in loss and hurt, and move forward with their lives. 

Music therapy is often used to improve well-being. A new study hints that for people with dementia, listening to music can induce lingering emotions even if they don't remember listening.

This article explores the evidence-based benefits of music therapy among adults with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It references existing research showing how music enhances communication, cognitive functioning, physical activity, memory, reality orientation, and quality of life.

Learn more about the benefits of music therapy by seeing a music therapy experience in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beNTuTLHm9Q 

The brain often seems to hold on to its ability to understand musical communication long after other skills are lost to dementia. This video features a certified music therapist and an older adult with Alzheimer’s disease singing a familiar song, showing how music enhances self-expression, interpersonal interaction, and musical communication through vocal improvisation and singing familiar songs. 

Learn more about the benefits of music therapy for individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's disease: https://www.musictherapy.org/assets/1/7/FactSheet_Music_Therapy_and_Dementia_Care_2021.pdf https://issuu.com/adbourne/docs/aged_care_today_autumn_2023/47

This fact sheet explains the benefits of music therapy for older adults with memory disorders including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It also describes the clinical processes and neurological impact of music therapy, and the importance of working with a professional music therapist. 

See an example of a music therapy session in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlrULP7VABo 

The primary purpose of this handbook is to educate music therapists and healthcare professionals about the uses and evidence-based benefits of music therapy practices with older adults including those in hospice care, health and wellness programs, intergenerational programs, and those living with Alzheimer’s disease,