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Felicity A. Baker PhD, RMT
The University of Queensland
Denise Grocke PhD, RMT
The University of Melbourne
Nancy A. Pachana PhD
The University of Queensland
Abstract
Maintaining meaningful relationships in ageing couples where one spouse has dementia may lead to improved wellbeing in the caregiving spouses and increase the probability that caregivers will be able to maintain the care of their partners. Our study piloted a home-based music intervention designed to stimulate meaningful interaction between the spouses and discover its value in affecting the quality of the spousal relationship, satisfaction with caregiving, and caregiver wellbeing. Five couples consented to participate in the study and were provided with an education and demonstration session designed to train the caregiving spouse to use music with their spouse. They were asked to selfdirect a program involving three sessions per week for six consecutive weeks. Measures of anxiety, depression, spousal relationship, and measures of caregiving experiences were administered pre-post program. Spousal caregivers completed a diary during the six weeks and participated in a postprogram interview. A thematic analysis of the data indicated that music-sharing experiences were beneficial to the spousal relationship, satisfaction with caregiving, and caregiver wellbeing, and enhanced the mood of both the caregiver and spouse with dementia. The sample size was too small to generate significant quantitative results and is used in this paper to support the qualitative data.
Key words: Caregiver, dementia, home-based intervention, spousal relationship
Introduction and Literature Review
Accessible and innovative care for people with dementia and their spousal caregivers is crucial as the number of those diagnosed with dementia increases. In 2008 the number of Australians with dementia reached 230,000; but by 2050, this number will exceed 730,000 (Access Economics, 2009). Quality of care for people with dementia is best achieved by continued dwelling in the family home, surrounded by important memories, sentimental artefacts, and familiar loved ones (Alzheimer's Australia, 2003). However, spousal caregivers experience significant burden, increasing physical, emotional and social strain, and an increased risk of death as they care for their spouse over long periods of time (Access Economics, 2009). Maintaining the quality of the spousal relationship and the wellbeing of the caregiver is vital to compassionate and effective care for people with dementia (deVugt et al., 2003).
Guidelines for dementia...