Evidence-Based Practice with Older Adults

Description of course coming soon!

Whether you work in hospice or senior living, you have likely had people participate in music therapy sessions who weren’t the identified client. These professional and informal care partners can be quite important in the lives of the folks identified as music therapy clients. Let’s discuss how to bring care partners into the music in ways that serve the larger purposes of your music therapy sessions.

Music therapists working with older adults know that cultural considerations are important in our work, but how often do we consider the wider range of cultural identities for people in music therapy spaces and how various identities intersect? We have a responsibility as music therapists to continually deepen our culturally responsive practices. Let’s explore together.

Up to half of adults over age 50 have a physical or mental condition that qualifies as a disability, while only 19% of older adults identify as disabled. At the same time, more than 1 in 4 Americans has a disability, including many music therapists. How do disability and ableism affect music therapists, clients, and others involved in eldercare music therapy? Hear from two disabled music therapists as we discuss.

The oldest Baby Boomers turn 80 years old this year! In this newest chapter of our wildly popular Eldercare Grab Bag series, we’ll explore more music from the 1960s and beyond, including singing, songwriting, movement, and instrument playing experiences to share in group and individual music therapy sessions with older adults.

Music therapists working in memory care or hospice settings will frequently be in music with folks who are living with advanced dementia. These residents require 24/7 care, including assistance with ADLs. Let’s discuss the challenges and highlights of working with individuals living with advanced dementia, as well as ways to adapt our musical facilitation to enable meaningful connections at this stage of life.

Build your understanding of the evidence base for music therapy practice with older adults, while making direct connections to your day-to-day work. Your presenters will deliver an overview of an article published within the last year. Then, we’ll discuss its implications for clinical practice. Attend live to be part of the discussion, or watch the recording later. Article to be announced prior to 7/23/2026.

Build your understanding of the evidence base for music therapy practice with older adults, while making direct connections to your day-to-day work. Your presenters will deliver an overview of an article published within the last year. Then, we’ll discuss its implications for clinical practice. Attend live to be part of the discussion, or watch the recording later. Article to be announced prior to 3/19/2026.

Build your understanding of the evidence base for music therapy practice with older adults, while making direct connections to your day-to-day work. Your presenters will deliver an overview of an article published within the last year. Then, we’ll discuss its implications for clinical practice. Attend live to be part of the discussion, or watch the recording later. Article to be announced prior to 5/21/2026.

We discuss the Thompson et al (2025) article Music Therapy Embedded in the Life of Dementia Inpatient Care: A Feasibility Study to Inform a Future Trial.

Build your understanding of the evidence base for music therapy practice with older adults, while making direct connections to your day-to-day work. Your presenters will deliver an overview of an article published within the last year. Then, we’ll discuss its implications for clinical practice. Attend live to be part of the discussion, or watch the recording later. Article to be announced prior to 11/19/26.

Build your understanding of the evidence base for music therapy practice with older adults, while making direct connections to your day-to-day work. Your presenters will deliver an overview of an article published within the last year. Then, we’ll discuss its implications for clinical practice. Attend live to be part of the discussion, or watch the recording later. Article to be announced prior to 9/17/26.