Long experience as a trained music therapist, within the field of psychogeriatrics and special education. Several assignments teaching music therapy students at the Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo and at Sandane, within areas as supervision, practical training, theory and methodology within the field of geriatrics, censorship.
Assignments for GERIA, department for psychogeriatrics in the community of Oslo. Teaching and coaching personnel at nursing homes in using music with demented people.
"Glimpses of joy". A mixed-methods study of music therapy with elderly people suffering from dementia and depression.
The number of people suffering from dementia is rapidly increasing. Approximately 4/5 of the people staying at nursing homes in Norway suffer from this disease. There exists a lot of literature showing the benefits of using music with demented people. A Danish literature survey which includes 92 studies, concludes that music therapy has a positive impact on communicative, physiological, cognitive and social aspects on persons suffering from dementia. Only a few studies deal with depression. My personal experience from practical work is that music therapy very often has a positive impact on mood among demented people.
This Ph.D. study explores to what extent music therapy can improve mood and reduce symptoms of sadness and depression among elderly demented people at institutions.
The main focus of the study is: How to improve levels of mood among people suffering from dementia and depression through using music therapy? What kind of qualities in the intervention might be important for changes?
The first part of the research approach is an investigation with one person suffering from dementia (single case). This person will receive music therapy three times a week for about five weeks at an institution for elderly people. The second part consists of three music therapists conducting the same procedure. They will work individually with two demented people each (multiple single cases).
The project has a mixed-method design, containing both quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques. The effects of the music-therapy intervention and descriptions of changes and possible qualities necessary for changes will be measured. Literature, theory, data, methods and results will be discussed.
There are especially three factors that make this study unique. Firstly very few studies are conducted which concern dementia and music in Norway. A Norwegian study is therefore something special. Secondly this music therapeutic approach which focuses on the music preferences, of demented persons , has never been applied in studies concerning music and depression before. The third factor is the use of mixed-methods. This method is increasingly used in international social sciences, but so far there are just a few examples in music therapeutic research.
This project is relevant for people interested in dementia care and in the application of music as a means of communication and social interaction. Furthermore the project is relevant for the music therapeutic and dementia care professions.
Selected publications
Lyngroth, Kvamme, Skogen 2006: Når musikk skaper kontakt. Om utviklingen av metoden individualisert musikk. Prosjektrapport nr.1/2006. GERIA
Kvamme 2006: "Musikk i arbeid med eldre" I Aasgaard (red.): Musikk og helse. Cappelen Akademiske Forlag.
Kvamme 2006: Musikk for demensrammede personer - en livsnødvendighet? I Demens Vol.10/nr.3. Nasjonalt kompetansesenter for aldring og helse.
English
Utskriftsversjon