Director Dr. Gilles Comeau and a group of Institute partners have recently been awarded 1M over four years from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for a project focusing on individuals living with dementia, or those who are at risk of developing dementia.
Music – learning, performing, creating – is universal across societies and generates profound and meaningful experiences across the lifespan and greatly enhances people’s life, social interactions, and cultural identity. Music is a rich human experience as it moves us at an emotional level and directly affects our mood, and encourages sensory and cognitive stimulations, physical activity, and social interaction. Each of these in turn can trigger psychological, physiological, social, and behavioural responses that are themselves causally linked with wellness outcomes. Many studies, including a scoping review by the World Health Organization, have shown how music engagement can enhance subjective well-being, create positive emotions in daily lives, contribute to life satisfaction, and increase social well-being and quality of life. This robust evidence base serves as the foundation for the current project.
The overarching goal is to implement and evaluate community-based music interventions to enhance well-being for people living with dementia, their families, caregivers, and at-risk populations. The project aims to bring together diverse stakeholders, including community organizations, music educators, therapists, social workers, and health professionals, viewing music as a meaningful resource.
The project has evolved through collaborations with key partners such as Bruyère, The Royal, Vanier Community Service Centre, Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County, Radical Connections, and University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute. These collaborations span various healthcare and community settings, ensuring a holistic approach.
Building on established research, the project will explore a Dalcroze-based intervention. This approach incorporates movement as well as music, addressing the risk factors of physical inactivity and low social interaction. Music and movement, grounded in Dalcroze methodology, has shown feasibility and safety for older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
The objective is to implement and test group music interventions to assess their impact on well-being and quality of life, along with their influence on two dementia-related risk factors—physical inactivity and low social contact. Additionally, we aim to develop a Music in Prescription model, offering guidelines for optimal musical participation, an apprenticeship training program for music educators, and recommendations for implementation and sustainability.
This comprehensive project aims to leverage the universal language of music to improve the well-being of individuals facing the challenges of dementia and aging. With a robust research design, diverse partnerships, and a focus on community-based interventions, the project holds the potential to contribute significantly to the field of music and health.
Music – learning, performing, creating – is universal across societies and generates profound and meaningful experiences across the lifespan and greatly enhances people’s life, social interactions, and cultural identity. Music is a rich human experience as it moves us at an emotional level and directly affects our mood, and encourages sensory and cognitive stimulations, physical activity, and social interaction. Each of these in turn can trigger psychological, physiological, social, and behavioural responses that are themselves causally linked with wellness outcomes. Many studies, including a scoping review by the World Health Organization, have shown how music engagement can enhance subjective well-being, create positive emotions in daily lives, contribute to life satisfaction, and increase social well-being and quality of life. This robust evidence base serves as the foundation for the current project.
The overarching goal is to implement and evaluate community-based music interventions to enhance well-being for people living with dementia, their families, caregivers, and at-risk populations. The project aims to bring together diverse stakeholders, including community organizations, music educators, therapists, social workers, and health professionals, viewing music as a meaningful resource.
The project has evolved through collaborations with key partners such as Bruyère, The Royal, Vanier Community Service Centre, Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County, Radical Connections, and University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute. These collaborations span various healthcare and community settings, ensuring a holistic approach.
Building on established research, the project will explore a Dalcroze-based intervention. This approach incorporates movement as well as music, addressing the risk factors of physical inactivity and low social interaction. Music and movement, grounded in Dalcroze methodology, has shown feasibility and safety for older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
The objective is to implement and test group music interventions to assess their impact on well-being and quality of life, along with their influence on two dementia-related risk factors—physical inactivity and low social contact. Additionally, we aim to develop a Music in Prescription model, offering guidelines for optimal musical participation, an apprenticeship training program for music educators, and recommendations for implementation and sustainability.
This comprehensive project aims to leverage the universal language of music to improve the well-being of individuals facing the challenges of dementia and aging. With a robust research design, diverse partnerships, and a focus on community-based interventions, the project holds the potential to contribute significantly to the field of music and health.