The purpose of this case study is to illustrate how music therapy can be used to help the elderly successfully adjust to living in a long-term care (LTC) facility. LTC residents, particularly those with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia, may exhibit behaviors such as depression, withdrawal, anxiety, emotional liability, confusion, and memory difficulties, frequently related to the disorder, but often exacerbated by difficulty in adjustment to the change in lifestyle. The subject of this case study demonstrated these symptoms. Music therapy helped him adjust to life in a LTC setting by improving his quality of life and enhancing his relationships with those around him. As chronicled in this study, music therapy may facilitate a resident's adjustment to life in a LTC facility.
N.B. Names and identifying information have been changed to protect privacy.
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2.
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3.
Alzheimer's Association : Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Statistics. Easthampton, MA: March 2000; available from the World Wide Web: http.//www.alzmass.org/statistics.htm.
4.
Ibid.
5.
Alzheimer Society of Canada : Alzheimer Disease Statistics: Patterns of Caring for People with Dementia in Canada. Toronto, Ontario: February 2000; available from the World Wide Web: http://www.alzheimer.ca/alz/content/html/disease_en/disease-stats-caregiving-eng.htm.
6.
Ibid.
7.
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13.
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17.
Sambandham M, Schirm V: op. cit.
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19.
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22.
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23.
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24.
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