Press Release Volunteers Needed for Scientific Music Therapy Research at Beth Sholom Village

Virginia Beach, VA June 16, 2016 – Volunteers are needed for the Beth Sholom Music Therapy research initiative lead by Dr. Hamid R. Okhravi, MD from EVMS. The study aims to investigate how Beth Sholom residents living with mild, moderate or severe dementia can benefit from music therapy and music listening to personalized music. All group music therapy sessions will be facilitated by Board Certified Music Therapist, Becky Watson, Owner, Music for Wellness. She has extensive clinical experience in conducting music therapy programs for older adults living with dementia.

Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to achieve individualized, therapeutic goals by credentialed professionals. Music therapy interventions for older adults with memory impairments are designed to increase social stimulation, decrease anxiety and agitation, decrease pain, enhance emotional expression, and promote quality of life.

Residents will listen to personalized music playlists, created with input from the residents themselves as well as family and our staff. The playlists will be loaded onto IPODs so residents can connect with the music they love to improve overall well-being. The research team will join three groups of 7 to 12 Beth Sholom residents for three 30-minute Music Therapy sessions a week for six weeks. Some participants will be randomly selected to listen to personally designed playlists on IPODS 15 minutes prior to the music therapy session. Volunteers are needed for transporting, sitting and engaging with residents during music therapy sessions or collecting/distributing IPODs during music listening. The estimated time to begin the music therapy research project is early July through early September and will occur on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm. If you are available and interested in learning more, please contact Frances Levy Birshtein at (757) 572-3817 to learn how you can become involved in this exciting opportunity to benefits the residents at Beth Sholom or contact the names below. You are invited to an informational volunteer meeting on August 3, 7pm at Beth Sholom to learn more about the project. Thank you for your interest in enriching the lives of the Beth Sholom residents through music. Wayles Haynes, EVMS Medical Student [email protected] (865) 235-8162

Becky Watson, MBA, MT-BC [email protected] (757) 563-3488

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