Music as a health promoting agent in dementia care. Results from a Norwegian/Danish context

Introduction
According to The United Nations Principles, older persons should have access to cultural and recreational resources of society. Musical memory is remarkably well-maintained despite loss of other cognitive functions in dementia, and the use of music activities, caregiver singing, social dancing and music listening with iPods is increasingly implemented. Therefore, it is important to consider why and how music as a cultural and recreational resource is integrated in dementia care.

Methods
In the period from 2008-20014 the University of Bergen coordinated a collaborative network for knowledge building between persons with dementia, caregivers, music therapy clinicians and researchers with biannual meetings, seminars, open lectures, data collection for a pragmatic RCT, and knowledge sharing. The interdisciplinary collaboration led to a broad understanding of why music is relevant and how music is implemented in activities and daily care as well as in music therapy sessions.

Results
The various perspectives on music as a health promoting agent in dementia care are documented in the Norwegian/Danish book Musikkterapi og Eldrehelse (Music therapy and elderly health) published in June 2016. The use of music in a person centered perspective as well as the understanding of musicking as a social activity forms the basis of a rich description of music for social cohesion, in daily life activities and as a therapeutic agent. The application of music is not only used with the purpose to entertain, but also for creating a meaningful interrelation, thereby serving as a communicative practice. In an interdisciplinary approach music is integrated in daily activities, assessment and therapy, and with the aim to reduce medication, agitation, use of restraints, to increase awareness of resources, advance the culture of care, and finally, to improve quality of life for the person with dementia.