Music and Movement Program for Older Adults in a Hospital Setting

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background: The SWAY program was a pilot project designed to explore the benefits and feasibility of implementing an art-based program in a hospital setting to support selfhood and well-being among older adults. Due to the rapid aging population in Canada, it is crucial to identify effective approaches to support the well-being of older adults. Research in Community Arts consistently highlights the positive outcomes of singing and movement-based programs for older adults. Specifically, singing and dancing have been used to counter symptoms of mental illness. In this study, we explored both the benefits of an arts-based program for hospital patients and the challenges associated with implementing such programs in a clinical environment. Methods: The SWAY program took place over seven weeks in the Worship Centre at Providence Care Hospital, with patients attending one session per week. Each session was 45-minutes, including a 5-minute vocal warm-up led by a vocalist, a 5-minute physical warm-up led by a physiotherapist, and 35-minutes of singing and movement using props. Patients completed check-in and check-out cards before and after each session, ranking their emotional state, physical well-being, social connectedness, and vocal condition on a 5-point scale (1 = poor, 5 = optimal). Recordings of each session were used to collect observational data. Findings: The average scores for the check-in and check-out cards increased from pre- to post SWAY session, demonstrating improvements in all four well-being parameters. Observational data identified increased playfulness and enhanced social connectedness among patients. Key challenges for integrating an art-based program in a hospital setting include scheduling conflicts with existing patient appointments and assistance with transportation to and from the sessions. These findings support arts-based interventions as a meaningful complement to clinical care. Feasibility challenges can be reduced by delivering sessions directly on patient floors and coordinating program timing with clinical teams.