Columbia Aged Care

Aged Care INsite's article, 'The right note,' discusses a new project researchers are about to engage in. We've all had a memory triggered by a song at some stage, this project will study this concept further and explore the power of music in dementia care.

Couples where one member has dementia and the other is the primary care-giver are being sought for a new research study.

Entitled "As Time Goes By", the project, involving Dr Felicity Baker and Dr Nancy Pachana from the University of Queensland, and Professor Denise Grocke from the University of Melbourne, requires 120 couples living in or near Melbourne, Brisbane or Townsville as the project will involve participation in a home-based, carer-conducted music program.

The researchers say the project is designed to trial an active music intervention where the care-giving spouse is shown how he or she could use music effectively with his or her partner to facilitate the sharing of meaningful experiences.

Baker said the researchers were particularly interested in examining the effects of the program on the care-giving spouse.

"We already know the power of music to enrich people's lives and enhance relationships between family members."

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