Co-creating cultural experiences for people living with dementia in care homes: enhancing wellbeing through improvised musical interplay

The research project investigates how the music programme Music in Mind can enhance the wellbeing of people living with moderate to severe dementia. The programme is based on improvisation, where participants play various instruments together with musicians and engage in creative sessions.

The goal is not merely to play music, but to create meaningful moments and relationships among people living with dementia. The programme is particularly beneficial for individuals with dementia as it does not require them to recall facts or details—rather, the focus is on being present in the moment.

Data collection will be carried out in residential care facilities/music cafés for people living with dementia. The research design builds on previous studies conducted by the project team, as well as on experiences from Music in Mind sessions led by musicians from the Lundaland Philharmonic Orchestra. The Music in Mind programme is used as the primary form of artistic practice to study the development of relationships that enhance the wellbeing of people living with dementia in residential care.

The project is a collaboration between Marie Cederschiöld University, Jönköping University, University of Manchester, Edge Hill University, and Lundaland Philharmonic Orchestra.