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Description
This doctoral capstone project, completed as part of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, focused on developing, implementing, and evaluating an evidence-based Music-Based Engagement Toolkit to support occupational therapy practitioners working with older adults in long-term care. The Applied Leadership Experience (ALE) was completed at Morning Pointe Senior Living, serving residents with dementia, Parkinson's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and age-related functional decline. The project emphasized the ACOTE focus areas of clinical practice, program development, leadership, and evidence-based practice.
The primary objectives were to create an evidence-based toolkit, implement individualized music interventions during occupational therapy sessions, and evaluate their impact on occupational engagement, emotional regulation, participation in daily activities, social interaction, and meaningful leisure.
A needs assessment and literature review identified inconsistent use of music interventions despite strong evidence supporting their effectiveness for improving engagement, cognition, mood, and quality of life. Guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) Model, the project included four phases: needs assessment, toolkit development, implementation, and evaluation. The toolkit contained resident screening guides, intervention cards, session templates, outcome measures, and implementation resources organized by cognitive and functional ability.
The toolkit was incorporated into occupational therapy sessions involving activities of daily living, mobility, strengthening, balance, leisure, and social participation. Observational measures and Likert-scale ratings assessed resident engagement, mood, and participation. Findings demonstrated improved engagement, emotional expression, motivation, and social interaction, while reinforcing the importance of individualized, client-centered interventions. This capstone provides a sustainable, evidence-based resource that supports occupational therapy practice and promotes meaningful occupational engagement and quality of life for older adults.
Graduation Date
2026
Disciplines
Occupational Therapy
Degree Type
Book
Site Mentor
Kaylee Alsip BOD
Comments
Link to presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB8Go-Oim2o