Innovative Aged Care has announced the launch of the research project Beyond Words in conjunction with the University of Roehampton at dementia residential home and day club Chelsea Court Place.
The year long study aims to investigate the power of music and if it can be used to sustain language in older people with dementia, enabling them to communicate their wishes and needs for a longer period than would be normally be the case in the natural deterioration caused by the disease.
Researchers, Professor Adam Ockelford, Dr Fiona Costa, Catlin Shanghnessya PhD student and ‘savant’ pianist Derek Paravacini will lead this this innovative project with residents from Chelsea Court Place. The weekly, 45 minute sessions include a repertoire of familiar songs (requested by the audience) and proceed into a series of micro-songs; short rhythmic melodies associated with key
functional language.
Such micro-songs have been successfully used with children and young people with complex needs to scaffold or substitute language but no research has been conducted to understand the extent to which this happens.
Professor Adam Ockelford comments, "Beyond Words hopes to see successful results showing an improvement in sustained use of language for participants and ultimately offering them an improved quality of life. Evidence has so far suggested that music has a powerful role to play in communication with individuals who have complex needs and we are very proud to be working with the Chelsea Court Place team and residents to investigate and hopefully prove the theory."
James Cook, managing director of Chelsea Court Place, comments, "We are passionate about pioneering research and technology to help pave the way for individuals to enable them to live well with dementia. We are very excited about our partnership with the University of Roehampton to see how music impacts and improves the lives of our members and residents, plus developing a new form of communication for those at the more advanced stage of dementia."
Christine Valentine-Bunce, general manager at Chelsea Court Place, adds, "Music is very powerful and evocative and the sheer joy experienced by our residents in the Beyond Words sessions is remarkable. We are very much looking forward to the next year and seeing the results of the study and how this could help change the way we care for individuals now and in the future."
