Take a moment to reflect on your responses to hearing about this woman’s experiences in music therapy. What did it make you think or feel?
It can be helpful to note your thoughts and feelings down for you to reflect on later.
What do you observe of the process of developing a relationship with music here? How did Laura develop this relationship?
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1. Use of very familiar music to start such as folk songs, songs from childhood.
2. Use of music in different contexts like walking to the therapy room.
3. Started small – even brief moments of connection were important.
4. Build on these small moments each time of interacting by:
- acknowledging effort.
- gently supporting and encouraging the effort.
- using some of the same songs each time to provide familiarity.
- gently supporting extending the interactions.
5. Gathering information about musical preferences/history from friends, family, colleagues.
6. Sharing what was learnt with team/family.
Take a moment a moment to think how this approach might support you in your work/care of people living with dementia. In which contexts might you try it?
It can be helpful to note your thoughts and feelings down for you to reflect on later.
