Personas mayores con demencia institucionalizadas: efectos de la musicoterapia versus los talleres de reminiscencia-recreación

The number of people affected with dementia continues to grow each year. Within the frame-work of Positive Psychology, we will study the positive effects of music therapy on quality of life of people with dementia. The main objective is to analyze and compare the effects of music therapy (experimental group), and recreations/ reminiscence (control group) in institutionalized elderly. Specifically, to evaluate the effect of music therapy program vs. reminiscence/recreation program on cognitive functioning, mood and participation-interaction of individuals in moderate and advanced stages of dementia. Method: Quasi-experimental study. Pre-post test design with a control group.The participants were 24 people with dementia in phases 5 and 6 who were randomly assigned to a music therapy group or a recreation/reminiscing group Both groups received a total of 12 sessions, 2 sessions per week. Instruments included: Cognitive functioning: BIMS (Brief Interview for MentalStatus); Self-Perception Scale mood OERS (Observed Emotion Rating Scale); Observations of thetherapists and video analysis (sessions 1, 6, and 12). The results will be presented for each study group and the comparison between groups. It should be noted that individuals involved in the musictherapy group had a gradual increase in cognitive scores (attention, memory, temporal orientation)throughout the duration of the study, while the recreation/reminiscing group decreased. The mean scores of the participants in both groups indicate a more positive mood before and after the sessions and a noticeable increase in interaction between participants. Problem behaviors and a pathy also decreased in the advanced dementia music therapy group. Conclusions: Music therapy seems to contribute to maintain and improve cognitive, behavioral and socio-emotional aspects of older people with dementia in moderate to advanced stages to a higher level than reminiscence recreation.