A Stand-alone Therapeutic Music-with-Movement Programme for People With Cognitive Impairment

A Stand-alone Therapeutic Music-with-Movement Programme for People With Cognitive Impairment

The number of people living with cognitive impairment is increasing at an exponential rate. More than 100,000 older people are living with dementia in Hong Kong. Alarmingly, about 60% of long-term care residents or day-care centre users are living with dementia, nearly all of whom experience anxiety, depression, or other behavioural and psychological symptoms that place heavy demands on healthcare support and jeopardize their quality of life.

A standalone Music-with-Movement system is developed by integrating innovative and communication technology to facilitate the delivery of an evidence-based music-with-movement intervention. The technology employed are music library, 6-axis motion-sensing music instruments, wireless charging, and RFID.

This study aims to evaluate the changes in health outcomes (cognition, psychosocial well-being and perceived support) of older adults after receiving the service delivered by the trained staff using the standalone music-with-movement system.

Methods:

1. Aims and objectives:

   1. to evaluate the feasibility of the system supporting staff from elderly care institutes in leading musical activities (i.e., recruitment, retention, and acceptability);
   2. to evaluate the engagement of the participants in the intervention; and
   3. to preliminarily examine the health conditions of older adults with cognitive impairment.

2. Methods:

   1. Design: Single-group pre-and-post-test design
   2. Participants: Older adults with cognitive impairment.
   3. Setting: Elderly care institutes, such as daycare centres, community centres, and/or nursing homes.
   4. Sample size: 750 participants.
   5. Outcomes: Recruitment rate, attrition rate, acceptability, any adverse events, engagement in the intervention, health outcomes (social support, frailty, health-related QoL, MoCA).
   6. Data analysis strategies:
   7. Ethical consideration: Approval has been obtained from the University (HSEARS20211026009)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Older adults with cognitive impairment
• In a stable medical condition

Exclusion Criteria:

• With critical medical or psychiatric problems
• Those with uncorrectable hearing impairment