PET AND MUSIC THERAPY FOR THE ELDERLY

Pet And Music Therapy For The Elderly

Pet And Music Therapy For The Elderly

Introduction

Physical, emotional, and social losses frequently are instrumental in the decision to admit the aged person to the nursing home. Following admission the old person commonly exhibits an abrupt or gradual decline in cognitive, affective, and physical functions. (Aung & Lee, 2007). In the past mental decline has been attributed to a senile dementia with little hope of reversibility. Recently some caregivers have suggested that a lack of environmental sensory stimulation and resulting sensory deprivation may be partially responsible, and that effective therapeutic intervention can arrest or retard functional decline.

A person relates to his environment only if it contains a relevance that he can interpret. The disoriented, mentally impaired or physically disabled person (through impaired sight, hearing, locomotion) is limited in his ability to (1) see or hear stimulation, (2) interpret stimulation, (3) move about and change environment. Sensory deprivation literature shows that an unchanging sensory input produces physiological, cognitive, perceptual, and affective impairments. Due to functional and organic restrictions this person may be receiving only partial messages or none at all from an environment 'that appears to offer a variety of sensory stimuli. Group and individual stimulation therapies, which seek to maintain optimal function of the elderly through environmental manipulation, have been used with varying success. Pet and music therapy are examples of such interventions.

Although many anecdotes describe dramatic effects resulting from the human-companion animal interaction, quantitative evidence of success is sparse. stimulation from pets involves external stimulation that provides sensations of sight, touch, hearing, smell; internal stimulation arousing kinesthetic sensations resulting from body movement; and cerebral stimulation arising from past memories. One can speculate that the pet therapy will elicit a behavioral response if sufficient interaction between the old person and the pet occurs. Even a confused, cognitively impaired person is likely to perceive the multisensory stimulation of a soft, warm, purring or licking pet as a source of comfort and contentment. (Aung & Lee, 2007)

Music therapy is another therapeutic modality that offers sensory stimulation to elders through listening to and creating music. Through use of the auditory sense, the aged person is interacting with the environment. Music enhances a non-threatening, nostalgic social group setting that often leads to a feeling of unity among participants. Many memories are elicited by old familiar tunes. with relaxation within such an environment, socialization often occurs. Kinesthetic stimulation is provided to the sensorally restricted old person through the rhythm of the songs. The subjects can listen and keep time to the musical beat through use of rhythm instruments and body movement. Regardless of cognitive and other behavioral functions, music is a source of joy and release to many old people. (Wheeler et.al. 2003)

Music Therapy

Music therapy is a form of stimulation therapy offering auditory and kinesthetic stimulation chosen for comparison with the Pet Therapy Cohort. This planned new activity of the nursing home was scheduled to begin with the pet therapy to replace ...