Although use of personal music devices by persons with dementia and their caregivers is now widespread, there is limited literature concerning music and memory’s effects on caregivers for persons with dementia. Caregivers were provided an iPod by two respite agencies and were encouraged to use it with their care recipient. A mailed survey of 50 caregivers who received an IPod explored: (a) associations between use of an iPod and caregiver self-efficacy, burden, and care recipient functional abilities, and; (b) if the method of presenting the music playlist was associated with use of the iPod. Associations were examined for 10 complete surveys returned by caregiver respondents using non-parametric methods. There was no relationship between self-efficacy, burden, functional abilities and use of the iPod. A content analysis was conducted of caregiver open-ended responses to questions about factors associated with use of the device. Mean caregiver age in this study was 75 years of age, care recipient mean was 79 years of age. On average caregivers used the IPods 2-3 times per month. Scores on caregiver burden measured by the 12-item Zarit Burden Interview had a mean of 12.5 which suggests a moderate level of burden. Emergent themes from caregiver open-ended responses about using the device revealed care recipients as primary users, use mostly in the evening, and in response to caregiving tasks or difficult care recipient behaviors.
Keywords: Music and memory, dementia caregiver burden, self-efficac
