Approximately one in five adults in Arizona report symptoms of mental health disorders each year. These outcomes have been particularly challenging in rural and medically underserved areas, where long-term care residents face elevated risks of chronic stress, cognitive decline, and social isolation. Older adults with memory-related impairments are especially vulnerable to the loss of meaningful interpersonal and sensory engagement.
Music-based interventions (MBIs) have demonstrated strong potential to support both cognitive and emotional well-being. Active music-making may improve physical symptoms (e.g., chronic pain) and reduce mental health symptoms (e.g., anxiety, stress, depression). However, there is limited research examining how familiarity, personalization, and continuity of musical exposure influence intervention outcomes among older adults.
Older adults with cognitive impairment-particularly those living in long-term care-often experience reduced autonomy, fragmented social networks, and limited access to non-pharmacological therapies that support holistic well-being. This project responds to that gap by assessing how a structured MBI can engage older adults with varying levels of cognitive function. The proposed research will inform feasible, ethically grounded strategies for delivering a 6-week music-based intervention in ways that are meaningful, safe, and responsive to the needs of aging populations. Our central hypothesis is that participation in the MBI will improve stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, reduce chronic pain, and increase coping skills to manage health conditions among all participants.
