Music therapy should be a joint treatment for patients with dementia Music therapy should be a joint treatment for patients with dementia Evidence-based practice shows that music It has had many positive effects on those suffering from dementia when used as a therapy form of treatment. Indeed, some of the benefits resulting from music therapy are not currently achievable with other interventions. Music therapy is defined as “the controlled use of music and its influence on the human being to aid the physiological, psychological and emotional integration of the individual during the treatment of an illness or disability” (Sung, Lee, Chang & Smith , 2011). Patients with advanced dementia demonstrate a series of unfavorable, unpleasant and difficult to manage behaviors, not only for medical personnel but also for the family. As the dementia progresses, the patient's behavior worsens. Research findings regarding the use of music therapy overwhelmingly support the incorporation of music into the patient's care plan. It is important for those in the medical field to research new treatments and interventions to help patients and further implement these findings into the patient's plan when the opportunity arises. The question of interest for this article is: in elderly patients, do daily music therapy treatments compared to no music therapy reduce dementia patients' symptoms and behaviors? Problem Identification Dementia is a disease characterized by impairment of memory, intellect, judgment, language, intuition, and deterioration of social skills (Wall & Duffy, 2010). There are three phases addressed by Wall & Duffy, (2010): In the first phase, the patient declines in cognitive function, is irritable and restless...... middle of paper ......adults with dementia: A review systematic. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 51, 14-27. Retrieved from www.ebscohost.com Sung, H., Lee, W., Chang, S., & Smith, G. (2011). Exploring nursing staff attitudes and use of music for older adults with dementia in long-term care facilities. Journalof Clinical Nursing, 20, 1776-1783. Retrieved from 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03633.x(Sung, Lee, Chang & Smith, 2011)Vasionyté, I., & Madison, G. (2013). Musical intervention for patients with dementia: a meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 22, 1203-1216. doi: 10.1111/jocn.12166(Vasionyté & Madison, 2013)Wall, M., & Duffy, M. (2010). The effects of music therapy for older people with dementia. British Journal of Nursing, 19(20), 108-113. Retrieved from www.ebscohost.com(Wall & Duffy, 2010)(Liu, Cheon & Thoas, 2014)