A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MUSIC THERAPY ON HYPERTENSIVE ELDERLY RESIDING IN SELECTED GERIATRIC HOMES, KANCHEEPURAM DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Prof.L.Lakshmi; Dr.Shiv Bhushan Sharma

Volume : IV, Issue : X, October - 2015

A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MUSIC THERAPY ON HYPERTENSIVE ELDERLY RESIDING IN SELECTED GERIATRIC HOMES, KANCHEEPURAM DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Prof. L. Lakshmi, Dr. Shiv Bhushan Sharma

Abstract :

Old age population in India is currently the second largest in the world. Urbanization and industrialization force the children to board their old aged parents in geriatric homes. Institutions are mushrooming since 1990s. In geriatric homes more than half of the elderly are suffering from hypertension. Most of the hypertensive is suffering also from other diseases, resulting in significant reduction of daily activities and compromised satisfaction over life. Mortality rates will be higher among geriatric which is included in the vulnerable group by the year 2020, mainly due to cardiac illness. The baseline cause will be hypertension among elderly. . Hypertension though it is a treatable ailment, but it leaves a space for intervention which includes complimentary therapies especially music therapy. .(Datta Pratyay Pratim, 2011.) The objectives of the study were to assess the effect of music therapy on elderly suffering from hypertension, who are residing in selected geriatric homes and to associate the effect with selected demographic variables. The study was conducted in �Little Drops� old age home (experimental group), and �Little Angles� old age home (control group), Chennai, Tamil Nadu. A Quasi experimental design Pre–test/Post–test Control Group was used. Elderly samples of 101 in experimental group and 100 in control group were selected. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the samples. Inclusion criteria were followed, as the samples that were able to hear the music by conducting whisper test. The effect of music therapy on hypertension was assessed by using sphygmomanometer. Pre test was done before the intervention of administration of music therapy. It was administered to the participants who were included in listening to a predesigned instrumental music based on raga Malkauns, for the duration of 22 minutes at a specified time in the evening for a period of 30 days. The collected data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The study results revealed that, there is a significant relationship between the effect of music therapy and the increased level of blood pressure of the elderly; also showed a significant relationship between age and occupational status with the level of well being. The study concludes that training in the field of geriatrics and gerontology for Para professionals in counseling the elderly including music therapy beneficial effects on the problems of the elderly