Research
JoCo, as a creative and innovative company, values research. Participating in research is our way of providing an evidence base for the products and approaches that we promote and to demonstrate market leadership in healthcare and social care learning, development and consultancy.
Music in Dementia Network (MiD)
JoCo chairs the MiD, a managed innovation network funded by the University of Nottingham. Membership is open to any care providers, professional, academic, musicians, individuals with dementia and their carers who have an interest in exploring the power of music in dementia. The network meet every two months to discussing best practice, sharing knowledge, experiences, innovation and funding opportunities. We especially encourage new members to the network. Join via the social media page.
Improving Quality of Life and End of Life Care for People with Dementia Using Personalised music: ‘The Soundtrack to My Life’ Tool by Argyle, Elaine; Kelly, Tony
Abstract
Good support at home for people with dementia and their carers is crucial to maintaining their quality of life and helping them to remain in their own home. Person centred packages of care have been shown to be an effective means of providing this support.
Aim
In this pilot study we aimed to improve quality of life of people living with dementia at (including at end of life) and their carers. This would be by using and evaluating, a bespoke, person centred music tool: Soundtrack to My Life (STML) with a dementia specialist home care team supporting people with dementia in their own homes. The STML tool is designed to draw together pieces of music representing significance in the life of a person with dementia, as part of a bespoke life history /biographical care plan. In using the tool, it was hoped that engagement of people with dementia by support staff would improve and that support staff would be encouraged to reflect on their practice, enhancing their interpersonal skills. The research phase of the project aimed to evaluate the way that using such a personalised compilation of music contributed towards improving quality of life. The evaluation used a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to seek feedback from care workers and key managers about the degree to which the tool had benefitted the person with dementia and their principal carer
Implementing person centred dementia care: a musical intervention by Argyle, Elaine; Kelly, Tony
Abstract
Purpose – Recent years have seen the advocacy of person-centred approaches to dementia care. An important component of this approach has been the use of arts in the promotion of health and well-being. However, relatively little attention has been given to the barriers and facilitators experienced in trying to implement these types of interventions in a dementia care setting. It is, therefore, the purpose of this paper is to help to redress this neglect by examining the process of implementing a personalised musical intervention for the clients of a specialist dementia home care service.
Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on interviews with five project stakeholders, the paper examines, not only the potential benefits to be gained from the musical intervention but also identifies the barriers experienced in its implementation and ways in which they could be overcome.
Findings – It was found that although the musical intervention had a potentially positive impact, there were multi-levelled barriers to its implementation including issues of training, leadership as well as contextual issues such as commissioning and resourcing more generally.
Originality/value – The key role played by these issues in the process of implementation suggests that practice should transcend its focus on individual wellbeing and address the wider factors that can facilitate or prevent its fulfilment. While the multi-levelled nature of the obstacles identified suggest that the implementation of innovative interventions within health and social care settings should adopt a similarly eclectic approach.
Journal – Working with Older People, 06/2015, Volume 19, Issue 2
"My story in music" at Loros hospice: the story so far by Debra Broadhurst; Zoebia Islam
Introduction – Substantial literature has shown that music can be therapeutic for patients during illness and end-of-life care. Specifically, music has been found to reduce emotional and physiological pain, induce relaxation, provide spiritual support, decrease distress and promote feelings of belonging, closeness, and acceptance as well as providing an emotional outlet. These benefits of using music in a therapeutic way have been experienced by both patients and their family carers. LOROS Hospice has partnered with the charity Musicworks/JoCo Learning and Development to pilot a specially designed music intervention: ‘My Story in Music’ for patients using the services of the hospice.
Aim – To test the feasibility and acceptability of a novel music intervention using a music toolkit to facilitate patient narrative about their life.
Methods – Hospice staff were involved in four workshops, which included training participants in using and developing their own ‘My Story in Music’, facilitating the delivery of a toolkit and developing interview activities and consent forms. Pre and post workshop questionnaires were completed and a further questionnaire will be completed following the implementation of the modified toolkit. All participants will complete a reflective journal as part of this process and will be invited to participate in a focus group.
Results – A total of 13 professionals, from a variety of clinical areas, undertook the training. Of these, 4 have supported patients in creating their own ‘My Story in Music’ and reported that the current format of the toolkit was challenging for patients to complete, therefore, we will develop, refine and evaluate a modified version, suitable for our group of patients.
Conclusion – The majority of staff participants recognised the potential therapeutic benefits of using such a toolkit; we will now develop and test a modified version.
BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 11/2015, Volume 5