Reaching the Socially Isolated Person with Alzheimer's Disease Through Group Music Therapy - A Case Report

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to present a case on John, an 82 year old man with Alzheimer's disease, who resides in a dementia specific unit of a nursing home. People with dementia who require institutional care are often at risk of social isolation, due to the regressive nature of the disease, and the potential of developing behavioural disturbances. This case story demonstrates how group music therapy can be individually tailored to meet the needs of people with dementia who are socially isolated as a result of behavioural challenges, including aggressive and agitating behaviours, and therefore improve the quality of the person's life.