The effects of structured music activities versus contingent music listening with verbal prompt on wandering behavior and cognition in geriatric patients with Alzheimer's disease

Abstract: This study examined the effects of structured music activities versus contingent music listening with verbal prompt for decreasing wandering behavior or off-task body movement while improving or maintaining cognitive functioning in individuals with probable Alzheimer's disease. Twelve residents of a nursing home diagnosed with senile dementia with the possibility of Alzheimer's disease participated in the study. An ABACAB experimental design was implemented. Analyses of variances revealed significant differences in the frequency and total percent of wandering, and the length of stay in sessions for music and nonmusic conditions. An analysis of variance also indicated no significant differences on the pre, mid, and post-test scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination. A statistical analysis of the Scheffe's Test revealed no significant differences between the two music conditions concerning frequency and total percent of wandering, and length of stay in sessions. The results of this study indicate that both structured music activities and contingent music listening with verbal prompt are affective means for reducing wandering with the geriatric population.

Keyword(s): Geriatric, Alzheimer's-disease, wandering, cognitive, contingent-music, mini-mental-state-examination, Scheffe's-test.

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