Music Therapy in Dementia Care

The meaning of the creative arts therapies for the elderly, David Aldridge; an overview of music therapy literature relating to the elderly, David Aldrige; a modern care-giver of geriatric rehabilitation an dpalliation with integrated cultrual activities, Ake Seiger and P.D. Dahlberg; the importance of singing with elderly patients, Alicia Clair; the problem of agitation in the elderly and the potential benefit of music therapy, Annemiek Vink; the use of music therapy with Alzheimers patients in the Netherlands, Annemiek Vink; imporvisation as an assessment of potential in early Alzheimers disease, Gudrun Aldridge; remembering and forgiving, Susan Weber; creative music therapy: a last resort?, Fraser W.B.Simpson; active music therapy in Parkinsons disease: an integrative method for motor and emotional rehabilitation, C. Pacchetti; working with images and recollection with elderly patients; working with words; Alzheimers patients and the significance of narratives, Trisha George

The book is well referenced, covering a wide range of clinical interest. The clinical benefits of music therapy are clearly expounded upon, with various chapters covering worldwide approaches. Personal case studies and narratives help to illustrate the value of communication in its various forms. The behavioural characteristics of people with dementia are discussed and research underpins the benefits of music therapy with specific groups. Having no musical education personally, I was not deterred when rhythmical patterns were illustrated within the text. For those individuals using music in treatment programming, there would be definite advantages to using this book as an example of good practice. Poetry, dance and other therapeutic media are included in the text making this a valuable addition to clinical practice.