Effects of the therapeutic choir on the quality of life among the elderly

Abstract

The following research was carried out with senior citizens, who are treated at Miniliga Lila Sánchez de Cruz Foundation, at the municipality of Arbeláez, in Cundinamarca. The main objective was to describe the effects that music therapy has on life quality, taking as a starting point the “therapeutic choir”. Through this, psycho-emotional changes are identified, which affect the welfare of this specific population. A qualitative and quantitative model was chosen, and evaluation tools were used, which included a music therapy chart, individual interviews, field diaries analysis, and audio and video records that allowed a constant follow up of the music therapy process that was carried out. Positive results were found in regards to the perception of their quality of life, recorded before and after being treated through the WOQOL.BREF quality of life scale. The use of singing allowed the seventeen people who benefited from the treatment to discover that their voice is an important expressive means, and as a positive answer a better cooperative attitude was evident, as well as greater self-confidence, feeling of comfort, self-esteem, and active participation through the choir, that derived in a positive effect that music therapy had on the identified psycho-emotional needs.