The use of songwriting with patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Special Issue: International music therapy

Author(s): Hes, Jozef Ph

Journal/Book: Music Therapy Perspectives. 1995; 13: 31-34.

Abstract: Investigated the value of song/poetry writing with patients (aged 62-84 yrs) diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. 12-14 men and women participated in the group activity. A music therapist facilitated the writing exercise by proposing the themes, choosing music, writing the patients' dictated text, suggesting the use of metaphors and/or analogies, and deciding when the concluding sentence had to be written. Patients wrote songs based on descriptions and images of seasons and the themes of love and stages of life. Results suggest that, based on the preservation of memory for tunes and melodies, patients were able to write songs and poetry when assisted by appropriate stimuli and provided encouragement. The activity of songwriting not only provided pleasure to the participants but also improved group cohesion and social interaction.

Note: song & poetry writing & music therapy; 62 84 yr olds with Alzheimer's disease

Keyword(s): Music therapy; creative writing; poetry ; alzheimers disease; adulthood ; aged

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