Home-based Family Caregiver-delivered Music and Reading Interventions for People With Dementia

After training, caregivers will deliver the music intervention to the person with dementia whom they care for. The music intervention will include: a) singing familiar/preferred music followed by discussions facilitated by the caregiver about any associated meanings or memories; b) movement to music (e.g. upper body and arms imitating familiar dance movements to music); c) instrument playing; and d) listening to familiar/preferred relaxing or enlivening music (dependent upon symptoms present in the moment). These methods are known to assist in emotion regulation and increase cognitive reserve (e.g. attention and perceptual-motor function).

After training, caregivers will deliver the reading intervention to the person with dementia whom they care for. The reading intervention will include: a) the caregiver reading aloud to the person they are caring for; b) the person with dementia reading aloud to their caregiver; and c) discussion of the text and personal responses. Strategies to engage the person with dementia and to create opportunities for meaningful dialogue will be provided, as well as guidance on selecting reading material that is accessible to the person's level of cognitive impairment.