Title | Individualized Music Program is Associated with Improved Outcomes for U.S. Nursing Home Residents with Dementia. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2017 |
Authors | Thomas KS, Baier R, Kosar C, Ogarek J, Trepman A, Mor V |
Journal | Am J Geriatr Psychiatry |
Volume | 25 |
Issue | 9 |
Pagination | 931-938 |
Date Published | 2017 Sep |
ISSN | 1545-7214 |
Keywords | Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Dementia, Female, Humans, Male, Music Therapy, Nursing Homes, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Quality Improvement |
Abstract | OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare resident outcomes before and after implementation of an individualized music program, MUSIC & MEMORY (M&M), designed to address the behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia (BPSD). SETTING: 98 nursing homes trained in the M&M program during 2013 and 98 matched-pair comparisons. PARTICIPANTS: Long-stay residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) residing in M&M participating facilities (N = 12,905) and comparison facilities (N = 12,811) during 2012-2013. INTERVENTION: M&M is a facility-level quality improvement program that provides residents with music specific to their personal histories and preferences. MEASUREMENTS: Discontinuation of anxiolytic and antipsychotic medications, and reductions in behavioral problems and depressed mood in 2012 (pre-intervention) and 2013 (intervention), calculated using Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. RESULTS: The proportion of residents who discontinued antipsychotic medication use over a 6-month period increased from 17.6% to 20.1% among M&M facilities, while remaining stable among comparison facilities (15.9% to 15.2%). The same trend was observed for anxiolytic medications: Discontinuation of anxiolytics increased in M&M facilities (23.5% to 24.4%), while decreasing among comparison facilities (24.8% to 20.0%). M&M facilities also demonstrated increased rates of reduction in behavioral problems (50.9% to 56.5%) versus comparison facilities (55.8% to 55.9%). No differences were observed for depressed mood. CONCLUSIONS: These results offer the first evidence that the M&M individualized music program is associated with reductions in antipsychotic medication use, anxiolytic medication use, and BPSD symptoms among long-stay nursing home residents with ADRD. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.jagp.2017.04.008 |
Alternate Journal | Am J Geriatr Psychiatry |
PubMed ID | 28483436 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC5563268 |
Grant List | P01 AG027296 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |