EVIDENCE FROM THE LITERATURE ON MUSIC THERAPY IN PALLIATIVE CARE FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/arev8n6-042Keywords:
Palliative Care, Music Therapy, ElderlyAbstract
This study aimed to identify and synthesize the evidence in the literature on music therapy in palliative care for older adults. Methodology: this is an integrative review of the literature, in which searches were conducted in the following electronic databases: EMBASE via Elsevier, MEDLINE via PubMed, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Nursing Database (BDENF), WEB OF SCIENCE (WOS) via CAPES, between August and December 2025. Quantitative and qualitative studies, freely accessible, between 2015 and 2025, were selected 9 articles to compose the final selection after reading. The inclusion criteria were: open access studies, published between 2015 and 2025, available in full text in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, and that included scientific evidence of music therapy in palliative care for elderly people. The exclusion criteria were: duplicate articles, experience reports, theses and dissertations, texts not available in full, editorials, purely informative content, and studies incompatible with the study's objective. Results: music therapy has positive effects in palliative care for this age group, reducing pain and anxiety, decreasing depressive symptoms, reducing the consumption of medications (anxiolytics), and increasing the feeling of freedom and the return of good memories (affective memories) of families. It aided cognitive development, attention, memory, and relaxation, providing a safe, stimulating, and playful environment, promoting interaction and bonding with healthcare professionals, family members, and friends. Final considerations:The music therapy is an effective non-pharmacological intervention in clinical treatment, increasingly comprehensive and integrated, not only for elderly patients in palliative care, such as cancer and other related diseases, but with any other state of illness for symptom relief. It is essential to reflect on the relevance of palliative care for the elderly, as music therapy has a significant impact on the physical, emotional, and social aspects of the elderly, being a tool for interdisciplinary care.
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References
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