Benefits of Music Use in Patient Care

Have you ever had an elderly dementia patient with great anxiety or a patient with major depressive disorder? Putting on a Chopin piano sonata or Ariana Grande’s latest pop single may be able to help these symptoms and your patient’s overall wellness.

 History of Music Therapy

The historical use of music therapy goes back thousands of years, with early references found in Egyptian texts as far back as 1500 BC. Greek philosophers including Plato and Aristotle explored and recognized the beneficial use of music and its ability to heal. Interest in music therapy grew throughout the 20th century during World War I and World War II when musicians volunteered their services to the sick and wounded soldiers. Health professionals recognized the benefits of music being played for their patients and eventually enough interest grew to request formal music therapy training. Thus, organizations and programs dedicated to training musicians in a therapeutic setting increased in number.

According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy is “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.”

Music therapy can be defined in two ways- receptive and active. Listening passively to music is an example of receptive therapy. It doesn’t necessarily need to be classical either! Active therapy includes more interaction like instrument playing, singing, and movement with music.

Music Benefits for Patients

 Putting music on in your patient’s room, participating in a group physical activity grooving to music, or humming along to a song can do wonders for a patient’s demeanor. Here are a few examples of what music can do for patients.

·      Provide a calm atmosphere

·      Nonpharmacological intervention for pain, anxiety, and agitation

·      Help with depression and stress

·      Promote physical activity

·      Improve communication and expression

·      Improve overall mood and wellness

·      Better sleep quality

How To Include Music in Your Patient Care 

Though the official definition of music therapy includes the utilization of a professional, there are other ways to incorporate music as an intervention for your patient care as well.

 Depending on your patient setting, applying music intervention can look very different. Some hospitals provide specialized beds that include music playlists of different genres. In addition, many hospital rooms include TVs or radios that can be utilized.

Maybe you have a hospice patient who wishes to use a professional music therapist in their end-of-life care. Encourage family or your patient to turn on their favorite song that reminds them of a precious time in their life. Hum a beautiful melody while in your intubated and sedated patient’s room – they may still be able to hear you. Take advantage of an upbeat playlist for your nursing home residents as they do simple exercises for physical activity. The possibilities are vast.

Resources 

American Music Therapy Association. https://www.musictherapy.org/about/musictherapy/

American Music Therapy Association. https://www.musictherapy.org/about/history/

Music-based therapeutic interventions for people with dementia.  https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003477.pub3/full