Living in residential care can be accompanied by feelings of social isolation, loneliness, depression, and loss of life purpose. In collaboration with other researchers, Dr. Renate Ysseldyk and colleagues propose that a peer-support music program—the Java Music Club (designed for individuals living with early dementia or no cognitive impairment) and Java Memory Care (for mid-stage to advanced dementia)—can reduce these negative health and well-being outcomes through an increased sense of purpose and social identity. This project recently received funding from a Carleton University Development Grant.
See the Ongoing Research Projects page to learn more about this study.