Perception of music therapy by direct care staff of older adults with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of direct care staff of older adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in music therapy services. Participants (N = 5) were direct care staff (DCS) over age 18, either currently working or formerly having worked as DCS at Cottonwood Retirement, who observed a minimum of one music therapy session with their consumer(s). Participants shared their experiences in individual 60-minute semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Six themes emerged: (a) DCS find music therapy effective in changing social, physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning; (b) DCS encourage student music therapists (SMT) to focus on the physical, emotional, and social functioning, instead of the cognitive functioning, of older adults with ID; (c) DCS encourage SMTs to consider consumers' individual characteristics and preferences in order to increase therapist flexibility and intuition; (d) DCS are experienced and knowledgeable about consumers and encourage student music therapists (SMTs) to ask for help; (e) DCS apply and reinforce experiences practiced in music therapy to consumer activities outside sessions; and (f) DCS find personal enjoyment through connecting with consumers in music therapy experiences.