Carers' experiences of group therapeutic songwriting: An interpretive phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Supporting carers of people living with dementia to live happy and healthy lives is of international importance. This study aimed to explore carers’ experiences of participating in a creative group songwriting process. Four carers (2 male and 2 female) of people living with dementia participated in four therapeutic group songwriting sessions. Facilitated by two music therapists and support staff, the participants co-created a song that reflected their carer experiences allowing positive and negative perspectives to be represented in the song. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse interviews with the four carers at the end of the programme. A cross-case analysis was per..