Question

Warren lives at a long-term care facility and has Dementia. He has been referred to music therapy to help reduce his self-isolating behaviors. The music therapist is most likely to include which of the following as part of the treatment plan.

a) lyric analysis
b) singing familiar and meaningful music
c) learning a new instrument
d) rhythmic auditory stimulation

Answer 1

The music therapist working with Warren, who has dementia, is likely to use singing familiar and meaningful music as a part of the therapy plan, fostering reminiscence, comfort, and social interaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

Music Therapy for Dementia Patients

In the case of Warren, who resides in a long-term care facility and suffers from dementia, a music therapist is likely to incorporate singing familiar and meaningful music as part of the treatment plan to help reduce his self-isolating behaviors. This approach to music therapy aligns with the principles of Reminiscence Theatre, which is an applied theatre practice beneficial to people with dementia where the participants recall and share memories. Singing songs that are familiar to Warren can evoke positive memories, facilitate communication, and provide comfort. This is preferable over options like learning a new instrument or complex interventions such as lyric analysis or rhythmic auditory stimulation, as the latter may pose cognitive challenges inconsistent with Warren's current abilities and needs due to dementia.

Engagement in familiar music ties into the broader concept of psychosocial development and the enrichment of one's life through activities that reinforce social connectedness, cultural identity, and meaning-making, crucial aspects for promoting healthy aging in individuals with cognitive challenges.