The Efficacy of Music as a Non-Invasive Therapy for the Elderly - Coursework Example

The Efficacy of Music as a Non-Invasive Therapy for the Elderly Introduction In the ongoing pursuit of care and comfort for elderly patients, there may be numerous conditions that may not have traditional therapeutic solutions. For the elderly, traditional surgery is less effective due to the increased difficulty of wound healing and of general survival. Drugs are always an option, however, they have limited efficacy. Some of these drugs have unfavorable side effects drugs and some may present with adverse interactions with other drugs to the significant detriment of the patient’s health. These and other challenges create a strong motivation to investigate noninvasive and alternative interventions for aged patient recovery. Music therapy is one of the noninvasive interventions which can be implemented for these patients. This discussion shall therefore be based on a study of the various effects and potential of music therapy on elderly patients. It shall consider five major concepts relating to the patient’s condition which can be addressed by music therapy. These concepts include: depression, pain, nutrition, agitation, and immobility. Impact of music therapy on depression among elderly patients Elderly patients usually manifest signs of depression as seen by their withdrawal from family as well as their refusal of nutrition (Bales & Ritchie, 2009). Music therapy works well for depressed patients as it can primarily help them mentally release their burdensome worries and concerns. Music has been considered a dynamic process where therapists use music and its related elements to assist patients in improving or restoring health (Horne-Thompson, et.al., 2007). Music therapy has been seen applied in various parts of the world fulfilling behavioral and humanistic forms of therapy (Maratos, et.al., 2009). As techniques in music therapy are all significantly diverse, they can also be considered as active therapy where individuals are able to recreate and compose music. Music may also be receptive when people listen to it as a form of therapy. Combined receptive and active forms of this therapy have been widely accepted as a therapeutic tool because it can induce physical and emotional changes (Chan, et.al., 2010). Listening to music has been known to promote relaxation, meditation, as well as movement. Active music therapy also triggers creative processes among depressed patients, stimulating them to respond using musical instruments (Chan, et.al., 2009). The general mechanism of action refers to the co-creation of musical relations between the therapist and elderly patients, allowing the patients to experience themselves in a different light and to gain an understanding of their emotional issues through music dialogue (Maratos, et.al., 2009). This type of therapy may be implemented with the patient alone or in a group depending on the preference of the patient and depending on various elements which make the music therapy more effective. Benefits of music therapy in pain relief among the elderly Pain is one of the worse symptoms any individual can be made to endure. For elderly patients especially, pain can be traumatic and can have a significant psychological as well as physiological impact. According to Siedlecki (2008), listening to music can reduce chronic pain by up to 21%. It can help the people have more control over their pain symptoms or feel less disabled about their condition (Groen, 2007). The study depicts elderly individuals suffering from various painful conditions, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, dividing them into two music groups and a control group (Siedlecki, 2008). The study established that individuals listening to music for at least an hour each day for a week were able to improve their physical and psychological issues as compared to the control group. Finnerty (2008) also discusses that music therapy can impact on emotional events and memories which then affect the perception of pain. Music therapy can also provide distraction to a patient’s pain experience, including other elements of the experience like nausea. Nair, et.al., (2011) also decreases anxiety often related to pain, thereby relieving symptoms of depression and improving the quality of a patient’s life. With a better quality of life, the pain perception of a patient is also improved. Music therapy also addresses the discomfort that pain can cause the patient (Finnerty, 2008). In effect, music becomes a tool of coping, providing other stimuli for the patient to focus on. Music therapy impacts on other aspects of the patient’s life as well, thereby reducing the impact of the pain experience. Benefits of music therapy for the improvement of nutrition among elderly patients Although less common, music therapy can also be used in order to improve elderly patient nutrition. The nutrition issue of patients is related to other aspects of the patient’s condition. Issues in nutrition among elderly patients are usually caused by depression, their limited social life, as well as their general refusal to engage peaceably with other people (Wlodarczyk, 2007). Music therapy helps address these other issues. As was mentioned previously, music therapy can alleviate depression and pain. Horne-Thompson and Grocke, (2008) discuss that music therapy can also relieve anxiety among chronically sick individuals. The authors discuss that music therapy affects the patient in different ways, helping them engage more in socialized eating, as well as to participate in establishing a healthy diet plan. Listening to music can help promote a general feeling of well-being for patients with emotional issues, issues which are often preventing them from efficiently functioning in their daily life (Silverman, 2010; Nelson, et.al., 2008). Where an improved feeling of well-being is established, the patients can also carry out their normal functions more (Silverman, 2010). Impact of music therapy on relieving agitation Music has various purposes and has been valuable in relieving agitation among elderly patients. Based on Sung, et.al., (2010), music therapy is related to the controlled application of music to assist in the physiologic, psychological, as well as the emotional integration of a patient during his illness or period of disability. Music has helped in the alleviation of agitation, supporting relaxation, improving mood, eliminating pain, and even increasing food intake (Yu-Lin, et.al., 2010). It can also assist in the mental relaxation process by blocking out environmental stimuli and refocusing an individual’s attention on more pleasant emotions (Han, et.al., 2010). The study also indicates that listening to the preferred type of music can help patients recall pleasant memories which can then intensify the pleasurable feelings which the patient is experiencing (Sheidani and Pakdaman, 2010). With more pleasure, the limbic system of the brain is activated, cortisol is decreased and stress is reduced (Sung, et.al., 2010). Agitation is therefore relieved and relaxation promoted. Music provides a sense of familiarity to the environment and maximizes familiarity with the environment, often leading to improved functional abilities. Listening to music has been known to reduce agitation, assisting in the management of behavioral issues, as well as promoting the improved general feeling of health in the patient (Ip-Winfield & Grocke, 2011). Agitation is often under-diagnosed among elderly patients. Music therapy provides a means of relieving the agitation of elderly patients, allowing their minds and their feelings to be more receptive to pleasant sensations (Chen, et.al., 2009). Impact of music therapy in increasing mobility Music carries an inherent beat, slow or fast. Whatever its pace however, its impact on the elderly patients is very much positive because it often prompts them to be more active, and to move to the beat of the music. This is very much apparent in the study by Heiberger, et.al., (2011) which discusses the impact of dance and music on the motor control of elderly patients with Parkinson’s Disease. The authors were able to establish favorable results for their patients, highest scores being gained on the reduction of rigidity, followed by relevant hand movements, including finger taps (Heiberger, et.al., 2011). Clair, et.al., (2011) also discusses how exercise programs with music cues seem to provide improved motor functions and trunk flexibility among immobile patients. All in all, improvements were apparent in terms of establishing improvements in the quality of life of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. The study however pointed out the need to establish more cohort studies on the same subject matter. Nevertheless, they emphasize the impact of music on immobile patients. Among elderly patients, immobility is a major issue, one which often incapacitates them and limits their independence (Clair, et.al., 2011). Where they are given opportunities to regain their mobility and independence, they are also able to establish more control over their lives (Clair, et.al., 2011). Music therapy indicates an effective means of increasing and motivating mobility among these elderly patients, prompting their reactions and responses which eventually help ensure an improved quality of life. Conclusion Elderly patients often suffer from numerous health issues, issues which often prevent them from carrying out normal functions. The studies presented above provide strong support for music therapy as a means of improving the quality of elderly patients’ lives. Studies indicate that: music therapy is effective in relieving depression, pain, and agitation, and in improving nutrition and mobility. Majority of the studies support the non-invasive qualities of music therapy, mostly in improving the patients’ general mood and in providing a general sense of relaxation which can then alleviate patient’s health issues. Future studies however have to be carried out on how this type of therapy can be implemented on a wider scale in nursing home settings, community settings, and in private settings among elderly patients. For nurses, the possible adoption of this form of therapy in their practice can also improve patient outcomes. References Chan, M., Chan, E., and Mok, E., 2010. Effects of music on depression and sleep quality in elderly people: A randomised controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 18(3-4), 150–159. Chan, M., Chan, E., Mok, E., and Fionca, Y., 2009. Effect of music on depression levels and physiological responses in community-based older adults. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 18(4), 285–294. Chen, S., Hui-Chuan, L., and Sui-Whi, J., 2009. Perceptions of group music therapy among elderly nursing home residents in Taiwan. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 17, 190—195 Clair, A., Lyons, K., and Hamburg, J., 2012. A feasibility study of the effects of music and movement on physical function, quality of life, depression, and anxiety in patients with Parkinson Disease. Music and Medicine, 4(1), 49-55 Finnerty, R., 2008. Music Therapy as an Intervention for Pain Perception. Anglia Ruskin University [online]. Available at: http://www.wlu.ca/soundeffects/researchlibrary/RachaelFinerty.pdf [Accessed 08 September 2012]. Groen, K., 2007. Pain assessment and management in end of life care: A survey of assessment and treatment practices of hospice music therapy and nursing professionals. Journal of Music Therapy, 44, 90–112. Han, P., Kwan, M., Chen, D., Yussoff, S., et.al., 2010. A Controlled Naturalistic Study on a Weekly Music Therapy and Activity Program on Disruptive and Depressive Behaviors in Dementia. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 30, 540-546. Heiberger, L., Maurer, C., Amtage, F., Mendez-Balbuena, I., et.al., 2011. Impact of a weekly dance class on the functional mobility and on the quality of life of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. Front Aging Neuroscience, 3, 14. Horne-Thompson, A., Daveson, B., and Hogan, B., 2007. A benchmarking project investigating music therapy referral trends within palliative care: An Australian perspective. Journal of Music Therapy, 44, 139–155. Horne, Thompson, A., and Grocke, D., 2008. The Effect of Music Therapy on Anxiety in Patients who are Terminally Ill. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 11(4), 582-590. Ip-Winfield, V. and Grocke, D., 2011. Group music therapy methods in cross-cultural aged care practice in Australia. Australian Journal of Music Therapy. 22, 59-80. Lin, Y., Chu, H., Yang, C., Chen, S., et.al., 2011. Effectiveness of group music intervention against agitated behavior in elderly persons with dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(7), 670–678. Maratos, A., Gold, C., Wang, X., and Crawford, M., 2009. Music therapy for depression. Cochrane Collaboration [online]. Available at: http://bothamadaleen.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/maratos-music-therapy-for-depression.pdf [Accessed 08 September 2008]. Nair, B., Heim, C., Krishnan, C., D’este, C., et.al., 2011. The effect of Baroque music on behavioural disturbances in patients with dementia. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 30(1), 11–15. Nelson, A., Hartl, W., Jauch, K., Fricchione, G., et.al., 2008. The impact of music on hypermetabolism in critical illness. Current Opinions on Clinical Nutrition Metabolism Care, 11(6):790-4. O’Kelly, J., 2007. Multidisciplinary perspectives of music therapy in adult palliative care. Palliative Medicine, 21, 235–2241. Siedlecki, S., 2009. Racial Variation in Response to Music in a Sample of African-American and Caucasian Chronic Pain Patients. Pain Management in Nursing, 10(1), 14-21. Silverman, M., 2010. Applying levels of evidence to the psychiatric music therapy literature base. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 37(1), 1–7. Sheidani, T. and Pakdaman, S., 2010. Effect of music therapy, reminiscence and performing enjoyable tasks on loneliness in the elderly. Journal of Applied Psychology, 4(3 (15), 55-68. Sung, H., Chang, A., and Lee, W., 2010. A preferred music listening intervention to reduce anxiety in older adults with dementia in nursing homes. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19(7‐8), 1056‐1064. Wlodarczyk, N., 2007. The effect of music therapy on the spirituality of persons in an inpatient hospice unit as measured by self-report. Journal of Music Therapy, 44, 113–122. Read More