This case study explores the application of music therapy with Ms. Eleanor Vance, an 85-year-old resident of Sunny Acres Retirement Home experiencing significant mood decline and increased agitation. Ms. Vance, a former piano teacher, had withdrawn socially and frequently expressed feelings of sadness and loneliness following the death of her husband two years prior. Traditional interventions had yielded limited success, prompting the consideration of a music-therapy approach tailored to her personal history and musical background. The central aim of this intervention was to assess whether personalized music engagement could lead to measurable improvements in Ms. Vance's mood state and a reduction in her agitation levels.
The intervention commenced with a thorough needs assessment conducted by a board-certified music therapist. This involved interviews with Ms. Vance and her caregivers, as well as a review of her medical and social history. It was established that Ms. Vance possessed a deep love for classical piano music, particularly pieces by Chopin and Debussy, which she had played extensively in her youth and taught throughout her career. She also recalled fond memories associated with folk songs from her childhood. Based on this information, a personalized music program was designed. This program included passive listening sessions featuring her preferred classical composers, as well as active engagement through singing familiar folk songs and guided improvisation on a keyboard. The sessions were scheduled for 30 minutes, three times a week, for a period of eight weeks.
During the first four weeks, the focus was primarily on passive listening and singing. Ms. Vance initially responded with quiet attentiveness. Caregiver reports indicated a slight decrease in instances of verbalized sadness. However, a more pronounced shift occurred when the active improvisation component was introduced. When presented with a keyboard, Ms. Vance, after some initial hesitation, began to play simple melodies, often incorporating fragments of Chopin pieces she had previously listened to. This active creation appeared to spark a sense of agency and enjoyment. Objective observations noted a more animated facial expression and increased verbal interaction during these sessions.
Over the subsequent four weeks, the active engagement was intensified. The music therapist facilitated song-writing activities, encouraging Ms. Vance to express her feelings through lyrics and melodies. This led to the creation of several short songs reflecting her experiences of loss, remembrance, and moments of quiet joy. During this period, caregivers reported a significant reduction in Ms. Vance's agitation episodes, with a decrease from an average of four documented incidents per week to less than one. Furthermore, Ms. Vance began initiating conversations about her musical past and her current creative output, demonstrating a marked improvement in her social engagement and overall mood. Her scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale, administered pre- and post-intervention, showed a decrease from 18 to 8, indicating a substantial reduction in depressive symptoms.
In conclusion, the personalized music therapy intervention proved highly effective in enhancing Ms. Vance's mood and reducing her agitation. The combination of passive listening to cherished classical pieces and active engagement through singing and improvisation allowed her to reconnect with her musical identity, express emotions constructively, and experience a renewed sense of purpose. This case highlights the potential of tailored music therapy to address the complex emotional and psychological needs of older adults, suggesting that a personalized approach can yield significant positive outcomes beyond standard therapeutic modalities.