Remember Who You Are: Music and Identity for Older Adults. Rachelle Norman, MA, MT-BC Soundscaping Source

Transcription

1 Remember Who You Are: Music and Identity for Older Adults Rachelle Norman, MA, MT-BC Soundscaping Source

2 Music Exploration Experience Where and when did you hear this song? What feelings come to mind? What images come to mind? What significance does this song have for you (if any)?

3 What We ll Cover: Erikson s final stages of psychosocial development How music can be a tool for dealing with the conflict in this stage Practical ideas for sharing music intentionally

4 Final stage of Erikson s original theory of psychosocial development (developed in the 1960s) Integrity vs Despair Task: Review your life, asking What does my life mean, and how do I feel about that? What have I to grieve, to be proud of, to make up for, and what remains to be done about these things? (Hearn, et al, 2012). Satisfaction comes from a sense of knowing yourself and seeing yourself in the greater story of your cultural group

5 Subsets proposed by Hearn, et al (2012) Integrated realistic and insightful self-awareness. Remain both curious and involved. Generally content with experiences and achievements. Integrity vs Despair Nonexploratory general contentment but have closed down on further growth. Pseudo integrated created a story for themselves that denies elements that are unacceptable brittle surface satisfaction. Despairing predominant feelings of depression over disappointments, failures, and missed chances. The final result of life is dissatisfying.

6 Proposed by Bugajska (2017) as the stage for the young old and middle old post-retirement, but not final years yet. Involvement vs Resignation Confrontation of social, psychological and physical changes that come with aging. Involvement - Search for a new place for oneself. Create or recreate one s own life. Resignation Give up. Life is already over and it s too late to change.

7 What happens in the final stages of life? The struggle between involvement and resignation = courage The struggle between integrity and despair = wisdom Where have you seen these dynamics at work?

8 Neurological Reasons for Using Music Music involves many areas of the brain neural networks can help bridge over damaged areas Lights up the limbic system, which involves emotion and memory Involves the motor cortex and cerebellum movement Release of feel-good neurotransmitters

9 Cultural Reasons for Using Music Music is part of our lives from infancy something humans do together Significant part of culture brings people together defines groups and bridges across groups Connects us to our past and our present

10 Stimuli music, art, pictures, literature Musical Life Review Model (Sato, 2011) Theme major life events, family, hobbies, work, community, life roles, relationships, heritage Response happy memories, contentment, nostalgia, regret, anxiety, despair Evaluation verbal processing, creative expression Therapeutic outcomes integration, sustained hope, emotional intimacy with family, working through emotions, awareness of what to do with time left

11 Sometimes in our lives we all have pain We all have sorrow But if we are wise - We know that there's always tomorrow Lean on me, when you're not strong Lean On Me Bill Withers And I'll be your friend - I'll help you carry on For it won't be long - 'Til I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on Please swallow your pride If I have things you need to borrow For no one can fill those of your needs That you won't let show

12 Weave songs and stories together Using Music Intentionally Choose music with intention (e.g. for movement) Look for personally significant music Don t be afraid of unfamiliar music Recognize when someone wants or needs to go deeper musically, and refer to a music therapist

13 Bugajska, B. E. (2017). The ninth stage in the cycle of life - reflections on E. H. Erikson's theory. Ageing & Society, 37(6), doi: /s x Erikson, E. H., & Erikson, J. M. (1997). The life cycle completed. New York: W.W. Norton. References Hearn, S., Saulnier, G., Strayer, J., Glenham, M., Koopman, R., & Marcia, J. E. (2012). Between integrity and despair: Toward construct validation of Erikson s eighth stage. Journal of Adult Development, 19, Otera, M., Horike, H., & Saito, T. (2013). Musical life review for the elderly with dementia as spiritual careâ Clinical functions and roles of meaningful or memorable songs. Arts In Psychotherapy, 40(3), doi: /j.aip Sato, Y. (2011). Musical life review in hospice. Music Therapy Perspectives, 29,

14 Rachelle Norman, MA, MT-BC Contact Information Founder/Director Soundscaping Source LLC Web: SoundscapingSource.com Phone: (913)