Singing soothes: Music concerts for the management of agitation in older adults with dementia

Background: Nonpharmacological strategies for managing the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia are important adjuncts to medications, and evidence to support the use of nonpharmacological options is needed. We examined the effects of music concerts provided by volunteers on agitation in a group of demented older adults in their nursing home environment. Methods: The study included 3 weeks of baseline, 3 weeks of daily concerts, and 3 weeks of postintervention follow-up. Agitation among the subjects was scored using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory during the concerts as well as weekly, during each phase of the study. Results: Seventeen subjects were included in the analysis. There was a near-zero incidence of agitation behaviours during the concerts. A decrease in the weekly physical nonaggressive agitation scores of the moderately demented subjects (Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥15) after the introduction of music was also seen. In addition, subjects showed elevated nonaggressive verbal agitation through the music phase. Conclusions: Concerts provided by untrained volunteers are a resource-friendly means of managing agitation in demented older adults. Regular music programs might also help to trigger increased communicativeness and are a positive experience for caregiving staff and volunteers alike.