ONLINE CONFERENCE

MUSIC STIMULATION AS ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE THERAPY: BENEFITS ON INFORMAL CAREGIVERS

Monsonís-Payá, I., Garcés, J., Durá. E., Vidal, P.

INDEX

Introduction Social and institutional context Progress Project Alzheimer

Objectives Target groups Training modules and intergenerational activities

Data collection Evaluation and findings Conclusion

Introduction To discuss an explanatory research designed to contribute to

the maintenance and reconstruction of social ties through activities focused on dependency and care for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Research question: The extent to which assistance to people with AD contributes to unburden informal caregivers

Progress programme (VS/2011/162): “Alzheimer: Tremplin Intergénérationnel d’Insertion Sociale et Professionnelle”:

(VP/2010/007/0129).

Social and institutional contextPopulation age range Dementia prevalence60-64 years old 0.6 %>70 years old 10.9 %>95 years old 46.3 %

Alzheimer 7.7 %

Specific medical attention Respite units Public senior residences “Law on Promotion of Personal Autonomy and Care for Dependent

Persons” To guarantee informal caregivers’ rights in both psychological and financial

areas.

Social and institutional context Current scenario

urgent public interventions to assist people with a disease are increasingly required

Women without professional qualification are in charge of taking care of their relatives This contributes to burden these informal

caregivers physically, psychologically and financially

Social and institutional contextThe indirect impact of lack of support and training

Premature institutionalization; violence against patients; social exclusion of patients and informal caregivers; etc.

Non appropriated care

Lack of support, training and

communication skills

Caregiver’s burden

Progress Project Alzheimer Objective

Increasing the provision of social and health assistance to people with AD and their informal caregivers

Respond to the social demand of labour inclusion of young people and the increasing risk of exclusion of women without qualification or with difficulties to access to labour field.

Progress Project Alzheimer Target groups

People with Alzheimer’s disease

Social relationship

Cognitive function - stimulation activities

Informal caregivers

Social support network

Social relationships

People in risk of social and labour

exclusionSocial inclusion

and labour guidance

Employment opportunities

Training

Progress Project Alzheimer Training modules content

1. Introduction to gerontology

2. Introduction to Alzheimer’s disease

3. Informal Care and informal caregivers

4. Support and services for Alzheimer’s disease

5. Individual approach to AD: communication, music therapy and orientation to reality

General training

Specialized training

Progress Project Alzheimer Intergenerational and practical activities

Visits to patients and their caregivers 2h30min each session.

Music therapy as a key activity for cognitive stimulation

Data collection Non-experimental design: pre-test and post-test

comparisons (without comparison group) and post-test analysis (including context analysis).

Quantitative techniques: questionnaires Qualitative techniques: interviews and participant

observation Context analysis: using both primary and secondary

information resources. Not statistically, but representatively

Evaluation and findings Regarding informal caregivers

Reduced psychological and social burden Preventing social relationship breakdown

Regarding trainees Increased skills to access labour field. Provide further access to other training programmes. Increase willingness to work with AD’s patients

Conclusion Overall stakeholder/participant satisfaction Recommendation: lower duration and increase number

of training sessions. Approximation between informal caregivers and people

in risk of social and labor exclusion.

Thank you

Irene Monsonís: irene.monsonis@uv.es

Jorge Garcés: jordi.garces@uv.es

Estrella Durá: estrella.dura@uv.es

Patricia Vidal: patricia.vidal@uv.es