This study examined the effectiveness of music care on the cognition, behaviour, and emotion of demented elders in long-term care facilities.

Materials and methods

A quasi-experimental design with two-way repeated measures was used in this study. Using convenience sampling, 68 subjects were recruited and assigned to either an intervention group (n=33) or the comparison group (n=35). The intervention group received music care one hour each time and twice a week for 12 weeks while the comparison group maintained their daily activities. Mini-Mental Status Examination was used to assess subjects' cognition, the Clifton Assessment Procedures for the Elderly-Behaviour Rating Scale was used to assess subjects' behaviour, and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia was used to assess subjects' emotion at baseline, the 4th week, the 8th week, and the 12th week. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results

After 12 weeks, the subjects who received music care had significant improvement in cognition (p < .001), behaviour (p = .007), and emotion (p = .019) than those who did not.

Conclusion

The findings suggested that the music care could serve as a basis in the regular activity programs to improve the cognition, behaviour, and emotion of demented elders in long-term care facilities.