Music and Dementia

Sandra Garrido has a background in both music and psychology and is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour & Development at Western Sydney University. She previously received a Fellowship from the National Health & Medical Council of Australia to investigate the effects of music listening on people living with dementia and has been researching this topic for 8 years. She has published numerous articles on this topic in peer reviewed and industry journals as well as taking part in training for aged care staff on the effective use of music. She has developed online training and an alternative credential for aged care staff on the effective use of music and her guidelines for developing personalized playlist programs are widely in use in aged care in Australia.

• Part 1 – Understanding Dementia and How Music Affects the Brain1. What is Dementia?2. Music & the Brain3. Music as TherapyPart 2 – The Benefits of Music for People Living With Dementia4. The Effect on Mood5. Cognition6. Relationships7. Behavior Support8. Supporting the Caregiver JourneyPart 3 – Practical Implications: Implementing Music Playlist Programs for People Living With Dementia9. The Challenges, Barriers and Benefits to Using Music in Residential Aged Care10. Understanding the Potential for Negative Responses11. Reflecting on Areas of Care that Music Could Support12. Investigating Personal Preferences13. Creating Playlists14. Making Decisions About Technology15. Monitoring, Managing Negative Responses, and Integration into Care Plans16. Evaluating and Justifying Music Programs in an Aged Care Context17. Implementing Music Programs Online18. Summary, Conclusions and Future Directions