The goal of this single arm interventional, pre-post study is to learn about the feasibility and impact of group music therapy sessions for people living with dementia in two different community settings. This research will answer the following questions: 1. What is the impact of the music therapy groups upon attendees (people with dementia and informal carers) and does this differ between the two settings? 2. What is the impact of the music therapy groups upon staff and culture in the settings (day centre and memory hub staff)? 3. Is it feasible to conduct the study in these two settings? (recruitment, retention, attendance, delivery, data collection) 4. What are the barriers and facilitators to implementation in each setting? Participants will attend at weekly a music therapy group for a period of 10 weeks, either at the Merton Memory Hub run by Alzheimer's Society or at Eastways Day Centre run by Merton Council (Adult Social Care). These sessions will be led by a fully qualified, HCPC registered music therapist with experience working with people living with dementia. The music programme will be designed to promote engagement, social connection, enjoyment and personal identity with the overall aim to support quality of life, emotional regulation and the relationship quality between the person living with dementia and their carer. Data collection will involve mixed methods, such as quantitative validated questionnaires about wellbeing, loneliness, relationship quality between the carer and patient. These will be asked to both the person living with dementia and the carer. The music therapist will also conduct an observational Music in Dementia Assessment Scale on the behaviour of the participants living with dementia during the music therapy sessions. Qualitative data will be a semi-structured interview of about 20-30 mins to discuss with the participants, staff included, about their experiences once the programme is finished.
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
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Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale - 7-item version
Timeframe: Pre and post 10-week programme
ICECAP-O (ICEpop CAPability measure for Older people)
Timeframe: Pre and post 10-week programme
EQ-5D-5L
Timeframe: Pre and post 10-week programme
QCPR - Quality of the Caregiver-Patient Relationship Scale
Timeframe: Pre and post 10-week programme - one for the PwD and one for the Carer
3 item loneliness scale
Timeframe: Pre and post 10-week programme
CES - Carer Experience Scale
Timeframe: Pre and post 10-week programme
MIDAS - Music in Dementia Assessment Scale
Timeframe: Conducted on weeks 2, 5 and 9. Pre- and post programme potentially.
Post-Intervention Semi-structured Interview
Timeframe: After each session during the 10-weeks, and post-programme