Instructional Music for Falls prevention quality improvement project.
Proposed Aim(s) &Objectives: Improve motivation and support memory of falls prevention exercises through instructional music for persons aged 65+ when returning to community or home care. Increase motivation for regular exercise to strengthen muscles and improve balance to reduce risk for future falls.
Brief description of proposed approach: Create Music with verbal instructions to accompany falls prevention exercises. These will be accessed by a QR code connected to sound cloud and provided on a poster/ flyer with visual pictures and descriptions for accessibility, memory and prompting.
The activity involves using a Music Therapy Technique called PSE- patterned sensory enhancement, which is a technique that uses the elements of music to provide temporal and spatial cues for movements with reflect functional exercises and activities of daily living. Use of pictures and dialogue already in existence related to these exercises. The consumers would be handed a flyer with pictures and brief descriptions of the exercises as well as the QR code link to the audio file with music instructions for the fall’s prevention exercise series.
Method: Audio files were created to go with falls prevention exercises and consumers participated and gave feedback verbally and through surveys. These audio files were edited repeatedly based on feedback collected.
The project collected data on the feasibility of the QI project moving forward and the preferred length of time spent doing exercise to music instruction to be of theraputic benefit.
Difficulties in collaborating and allocating team members to consistently deliver program and gain feedback was challenging.
Project still in infancy of development, but from consumer reports more motivating and enjoyable to engage in. Suggestions included a video model and old technologies to take home were preferred-no QR code please!