Giving persons with dementia a voice in research about using song and music in their everyday life

Introduction
Presentation from an action research project: "Meeting through song and music as an integral part of the culture and everyday life for persons with dementia in a nursing home", carried out in collaboration with a nursing home. The person with dementia, relatives, employees, and the manager were co-researchers in dialogue-based and co-creative processes.
Purpose:
 Investigate how song and music can become an integral part of the culture and everyday life in the nursing home.
 Coming up with recommendations and ideas for the development of a culture and everyday life, where song and music are included.
Funded by: Alzheimer's Research Foundation.

Methods
Person-attuned methods were used: songwriting, idea cafes and workshops (Gove et al., 2018).

Results
Through songwriting processes, four songs were composed. Results from this revealed the residents' suggestions and ideas for how song and music can become an integral part of their everyday lives. It led to the start of a choir, weekly dance events and a music club at the nursing home.

Conclusions
By using person attuned methods, person with dementia can have a voice in action research and contribute to the initiation of concrete efforts, so that song and music can become an integral part of their everyday live.

References
Gove, D., Diaz-Ponce, A., Georges, J., Moniz-Cook, E., Mountain, G., Chattat, R. & European Working Group of People with Dementia. (2018). Alzheimer Europe's position on involving people with dementia in research through PPI (patient and public involvement). Aging & mental health, 22(6), s. 723-729.