Music Therapy for Dementia
(MCTM Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: The Hearthstone Institute, LLC

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?Healthcare systems around the world, including within the United States, have long-established shortages of trained caregivers. The American Health Care Association states that "the health care system has experienced a shortage of trained caregivers for critical roles for some time." This scarcity directly impacts the 45,800 Long-Term Care (LTC) communities throughout the U.S. Concurrent with this staff shortage, more than half of LTC residents have some form of dementia. These two issues create a serious public health concern, since dementia is associated with a variety of behavioral expressions, such as aggression, anxiety, and agitation. Behavioral expressions of dementia can be successfully managed with the use of tailored, psychosocial interventions and communication support. Unfortunately, existing staff shortages make the facilitation of such interventions challenging. One powerful and often-overlooked approach to ameliorating staffing shortages involves the utilization of retired volunteers to facilitate interventions for persons with dementia (PWD). Based on the nearly universal love of music and a promising pilot study, the product to be developed and tested in this STTR will build upon the combined prior work of the Principal Investigators. Making Connections Thru Music (MCTM), an urgently needed product, will enable retired volunteers to facilitate an evidence-based music and discussion intervention with PWD. MCTM aims to improve engagement, enhance quality of life, and reduce behavioral expressions in PWD. The intervention will consist of two main components: (1) a comprehensive online training course for volunteers, which will provide a general overview of dementia, demonstrate effective communication strategies to use with PWD, and instruct volunteers to effectively facilitate MCTM sessions, and (2) an app containing a structured MCTM intervention protocol and toolkit, which will be the means by which volunteers facilitate MCTM. MCTM will be marketed to LTC communities.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for volunteers aged 55+ and staff at residential care facilities, both groups must speak/read English. Residents with dementia eligible for the study must be diagnosed with any type of dementia, score 10+ on MMSE, be aged 65+, and speak/read English. Those showing rapid decline or working third shift only are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 18, work in a care facility in the study, and speak English.

I am 55 years old or older and can speak and read English.

Exclusion Criteria

I am not experiencing a fast decline in my physical or mental abilities.

Staff members will be excluded if they work third shift only.

I am 65 or older, diagnosed with dementia, can speak English, and scored 10+ on the MMSE.

+1 more

Participant Groups

The trial tests 'Making Connections Thru Music' (MCTM), a program where retired volunteers facilitate music-based interventions to improve engagement and quality of life in people with dementia. It includes an online training course for volunteers and an app containing the intervention protocol.

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: MCTM InterventionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Activity sessions will be led by activity volunteers

Group II: ControlActive Control1 Intervention

Activity sessions will be led by activity professionals