IN THIS ISSUE:

Long-Term Care Workers Find Stress Relief in Music"¦
Could Save LTC Facilities Thousands Upon Thousands

Employee dissatisfaction, burnout, and rampant turnover are some of long-term care's biggest challenges. In fact, these problems undoubtedly threaten a successful future for the long-term care industry. However, a recent study just may have the solution everyone in the profession has been looking for. Researchers found that a Recreational Music-making (RMM) program drastically reduced employee burnout and mood disturbances with vast projected economic benefits for the long-term care industry.

A groundbreaking study published in Advances in Mind-Body Medicine chronicled a six-week program of Recreational Music-making that not only reduced burnout in long-term care workers, but also reduced "Total Mood Disturbance"� (a derived composite index of several mood states that was measured with questionnaires before and after participation) by 46 percent. Using industry-wide human resources data, researchers projected that this improvement could result in an 18.3 percent reduction in employee turnover, which would save the average 100-bed facility more than $89,000 a year. Actual reductions in turnover at Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community" the center where the study took place" exceeded the research projections.

What is RMM?
Recreational Music-making differs from "regular"� music making as its purpose is the enjoyment and well-being of the participants" artistic and aesthetic outcomes are not necessarily of huge concern. What is of key importance is the fact that participation does not require talent or training. Furthermore, due to the inclusiveness of RMM, the activity can effectively bridge linguistic and cultural divides.

The study's protocol was based upon "Group Empowerment Drumming"� coupled with exercises on a digital piano for 112 employees at Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community in Meadville, PA. In addition to breathing, imagery, and movement components participants used simple percussion instruments to establish a sense of camaraderie while expressing their feelings, both non-verbally and verbally. Many discovered a refreshing sense of group nurturing and support, coupled with heightened interpersonal awareness and respect, which prompted ongoing meaningful dialogues.

As many are already painfully aware, the turnover problem has serious implications for long-term care. That's why the initial results of this study are very promising. For more information on RMM, visit the American Music Conference's website at http://www.amc-music.org/rmm/index.htm.