Music Speaks therapy began at The Mayflower Community, Grinnell, Iowa in December 2018. The local music therapist, Kelly Robertson, visits our low-stimulus South neighborhood once a week to conduct a small group therapy session, which is monitored by Mayflower staff.
Music therapy is a clinical- and evidenced-based practice conducted by a trained therapist. Non-musical goals are created for each resident based on identified needs. Interventions that involve music and rhythm are used to progress toward goal attainment.
Goals can include increased duration of eye contact and/or smiling, increased communication, therapeutic singing, positive interactions, creative instrumental playing.
Overall outcomes can include attention focus and reorientation; mood elevation; relaxation; decrease in anxiety, pain, and respiratory discomfort; and improvement in nonverbal expression, energy, and range of motion.
Kelly often starts the one-hour session with a group sing-along and then spends time individually with each resident. In the process, she provides individual assessments and notes as to the results elicited toward the defined goals. Rather than being entertainment for a group of people, music therapy is a treatment for specific residents only.
Music Speaks is a function of the Health + Music program offered by the Grinnell Area Arts Council. Mayflower pays a fee for the service. For hospice patients, the therapy may be provided with hospice funding.
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