Working with persons with cognitive decline and dementia from a person-centered, creative mindset affords more options for both the therapist and the client. Validation Therapy (Feil) and Positive Approach to Caring (Snow) offer two models for understanding this work. Experiential opportunities for application of these concepts to music therapy will be addressed.
Learner Objectives:
Participants will
1. list the stages of disorientation and the major characteristics of each stage(I.B.3)
2. list the characteristics of each “GEM” in the Positive Approach to Caring (I.B.4)
3. define how these methods can inform music therapy assessment for persons with dementia (I.B.3)
4. list three possible music therapy experiences for persons with cognitive decline learned today (I.D.10)
Schedule:
I. Introduction to and awareness of understanding of older adults with and without dementia 30 minutes
II. Validation Therapy (Feil) focus on the development and theory of this method, explaining stages of disorientation and Feil’s approach to interaction. 30 minutes
BREAK 15 – 20 minutes
III. Positive Approach to Care – GEMS model of understanding the brain changes associated with dementia and effective modes of interacting with each GEM. 30 minutes
IV. Experiential component – Individual and group music therapy work using these models 30 minutes
V. Panel discussion with presenters and participants 20 minutes
VI. Closure – course evaluations 10 minutes