Empath Health discusses utilization of music therapy for Alzheimer’s and Dementia treatment amid Movie Premiere ‘Still Alice’ (Jan. 16)
Clearwater, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2015) ― Still Alice is an American drama film based on Lisa Genova‘s 2007 bestselling novel and deals with something very difficult for many people: the onset of Alzheimer’s disease of a loved one. The film stars Julianne Moore in the role of Alice, a Columbia linguistics professor diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s . Alec Baldwin plays her husband John. Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish play her children Lydia, Anna and Tom, according to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3316960/.
Moore’s character struggles to manage her life while dealing with the illness and her job, marriage and children; finally bringing much-needed awareness and insight for a disease affecting 5.1 million Americans, according to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA).
Consequently, Empath Health, a non-profit organization encompassing programs such as Suncoast Hospice, wants to shed light on a type of therapy used with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients that has a positive impact on their lives. This innovative care is called music therapy.
Julie Martin, MT-BC, NMT-F, NICU-MT, holds a Bachelor of Music degree and has been a board-certified music therapist since 1997. She has been with Empath Health for the past five years as one of two music therapists for Suncoast Hospice. She can be found engaging her patients with dementia in music by singing and playing an electronic autoharp, a folk instrument of American making, called the QChord. Martin also can be seen playing her guitar and sometimes the flute or streaming songs by a patient’s favorite singer on an iPad.
“I started my musical training when I was 12 and had wonderful middle and high school music experiences. Through that, I was drawn to have a career in music of some kind. I learned about music therapy and explored it a little more, and when I did, I knew that was what I wanted to do. I’m naturally a person who likes to help others.”
Martin mostly plays music that is associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients’ past experiences, and in this way patients will enjoy the music and respond to it. “Music therapy is a modality to connect people to each other and to themselves and to build relationships in such a way that we can achieve goals. Connect, relate, achieve,” says Martin.
According to the American Music Therapy Association, such therapy is an established health profession used for patients to help them with cognitive, physical, social and emotional needs. Patients’ abilities become stronger and can be transferred to other areas of their lives using music therapy. Music Therapy is provided by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.
“In general, music is a biological experience. Patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia will alert to music as a form of stimulation. Their responses depend on what their experience is with music and what is their preferred music. Specific songs may help them relax more or stimulate them for interactions. Their own experiences with music will determine what songs are used for what purpose.”
“Early in my work here with Suncoast, I had a memorable experience with a patient with Alzheimer’s. As is normal for a person declining from dementia, the patient became less engaged with the environment and the people around her. One particular day, I found her sitting quietly with her head down and eyes closed. I sat closely and played the greeting song that I sing to every patient at every visit. I sang it several times, and with each repeat, she showed more reaction. Finally, on the last repeat of the song, she opened her eyes, looked at me and said pleasantly, ‘Oh, hello’. It was an amazing experience to see her rise out of the fog of Alzheimer’s.”
Music therapy has been researched for more than 60 years. It is administered by qualified therapists trained in music and the applications of music in health care, mental health, and special education. Music therapists involve patients in music experiences that may include singing, creating, moving to and listening to music.
“Day to day Alzheimer and dementia patients can change. Some days they are active and alert and some days they are sleeping or disengaged. The beauty of being a trained music therapist is that I have the skill to adapt my interventions and music techniques as needed to make progress on the patient’s goals.”
Music, used in a directed way, can modify moods, improve motor and cognitive functions and stimulate healthy relations. It can also decrease pain, relieve stress and anxiety, and facilitate relaxation.
Music activates several areas of the brain. If a connection to a song or piece of music is strong, hearing it can cause patients to recall a certain memory, even memory of self. In music therapy, patients with dementia can become more lucid, oriented and motivated to re-engage in their world and with others.
“It’s hard work and has been for a long time, but it is deeply meaningful.”
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ABOUT EMPATH HEALTH: Empath Health is a not-for-profit integrated network of care that provides expert, life-changing health care to those with chronic and advanced illnesses. Empath Health includes hospice, palliative home health and physician services, independent living assistance and day care for seniors, HIV services and advance care planning. Contact Empath Health at 727-467-7423 or empathhealth.org.