music therapy

Playlist for life

An inititative that encourages families to create a playlist of personally meaningful music on an iPod for their loved one. Features stories from families and individuals involved in the programme.

What do we know about the role of arts in the delivery of social care?

Skills for Care in partnership with Skills for Care and Development (SfCD) and Creative & Cultural Skills (CCS) commissioned Consilium Research and Consultancy to undertake an evidence review and activity mapping study to inform future thinking around the role of arts in the delivery of adult social care and in particular the implications for workforce development:

Is music the best medicine? Using prescribed music to enhance quality of life for people with dementia and their carer

One of a series of reports which forms part of the PROP Practitioner Research Programme, a partnership between the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (CRFR) at the University of Edinburgh and IRISS that was about health and social care for older people.

Evaluation of Big Noise, Sistema Scotland

Evaluation of Sistema Scotland's Big Noise Children‟s Orchestra in the Raploch Estate based in Stirling in 2008. It is an early intervention programme that uses music and participation in an orchestra to foster confidence, teamwork, pride and aspiration in the children.

The Scottish Government commissioned GEN to conduct an evaluation of the process and outcomes achieved by Big Noise. In particular, the study team sought to identify what specific features of Big Noise contribute to the outcomes for children and their families.

Complementary and alternative medicine and dementia

The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. They produce information and advice sheets to support those affected by dementia.

Public interest in complementary therapies is growing at a significant rate, easily outpacing the research conducted into their safety and effectiveness. People are often attracted to the ‘natural’ and safe image of these therapies, particularly in treating chronic medical conditions, for which conventional treatments are often less than completely effective.