Music and Filmmaking Can Transform Undergraduate Student Perceptions of Dementia

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that undergraduate arts and music departments may be untapped resources for boosting the older adult carer workforce, reports Medical Xpress . An undergraduate course curriculum had 52 students meet with people living with dementia, assemble personalized music playlists, co-produce short films about living with dementia, and author reflective essays. Music helped undergraduates meaningfully connect with people with dementia, while filmmaking offered learners the opportunity to share stories about dementia and music, and reflective writing allowed them to process their experiences. More than half of learners continued interacting with participants who were living with dementia in their careers, families, and communities following the course's completion. "By teaching students to view aging through creative, intercultural, and interdisciplinary frames, we have the opportunity to shape a new generation of healthcare professionals, artists, and community members who will be motivated to collaboratively work towards addressing the needs of our rapidly aging populations," said the University of Arizona's Jennie Gubner. "Whether studying classical guitar, nursing, anthropology, public health, or business and marketing, everyone has something to offer to conversations about brain health and aging."