MUSIC & MEMORY℠ Creates Lasting Impact in Texas

MUSIC & MEMORY℠ is a non-profit organization that creates personalized music playlists for individuals in nursing homes and other long-term care organizations, who suffer from a wide range of cognitive and physical challenges, to find renewed meaning and connection in their lives through music-triggered memories. The program works to reduce the use of antipsychotic medications in all populations and improve their quality of life. As of August 2017, Music & Memory has been adopted by more than 4,500 healthcare organizations in the United States and has been adopted as state policy in 22 states.

Specifically, Texas is the 8th fastest improving state in the nation with regard to the use of antipsychotic medications, with Music & Memory being one of the key initiatives. Texas adopted Music & Memory in 2015 by implementing a small pilot for 32 facilities through the use of an existing Civil Money Penalty (CMP) grant. Each facility received the equipment to get the program up and running. Staff from these facilities participated in a three-day certification webinar series hosted by Dan Cohen, Music & Memory Founding Executive Director. Based on the success of the program, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) applied for and received approval to utilize CMP funds to expand the Music & Memory program to an additional 400 organizations over a two-year period. Thus far, the rollout has occurred in several phases.

More recently, Texas HHS Quality monitoring Program received an additional CMP award to bring 200 additional Nursing Facilities onto the program, which will benefit a total of 3,000 residents. They will begin the nomination period in the Fall of 2017.

The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing Center for Excellence in Long-Term Care will launch a six-month study of the program to examine the use of personalized music for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The study will be made public at the end of 2018.

Impact of MUSIC & MEMORY℠ in Texas:

- Texas recently engaged in an intergenerational collaboration with HHSC, which led to the creation of high school curriculum -- A Snapshot On Aging. Approved by the Texas Educational Agency (TEA), the curriculum has been released to all high schools in Texas. Watch the heart-warming connection between generations here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnxJ-LM7d_0

- Austin State Supported Living Center (Austin SSLC), one of the first organizations to adopt the Music & Memory program, saw an immediate increase in the quality of life of residents and a more gradual increase in their cognitive engagement. Overall, residents were more engaged with active treatment, staff interactions and other everyday activities. Their launch led to all SSLC's becoming Music & Memory certified in Texas. Learn more here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaS1ycv4gT0

- Dr. Michael Gayle, Austin SSLC Director of Habilitation Therapies, says, "the individuals that participate in the program have shown to have better conversations with staff, are more engaged with active treatment and everyday activities."

- Based on the positive results seen in the participating nursing facilities, HHSC expanded the program for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities residing in State Supported Living Centers.