A Qualitative Pilot Study of Adolescents' Characteristics and Experiences Delivering a Digital, Intergenerational Music Program to Older Adults with Alzheimer's and Dementia

Music interventions show promise to support critical areas of decline for those living with dementia. There is a gap in identifying the skills and experiences necessary to facilitate the music activities in such an intervention. This pilot research creates an understanding of the characteristics and experiences of adolescent musicians who facilitated a digital, intergenerational music intervention. The research team conducted in-depth interviews with the adolescent participants and used descriptive phenomenological methodology. Eight adolescent musicians participated in the study, ranging from 14 to 18 years old. For characteristics, adolescents reported prior experience in music and key social supports. For experiences, adolescents reported decreased performance anxiety and increase in human connection and understanding of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. There is potential for researchers to explore if adolescents who facilitate such a music intervention experience less performance anxiety as well as more empathy for those living with dementia. Demonstrates the potential that facilitating an intergenerational music intervention can have positive effects on adolescents' music skills and social well-being, informing future pilot studies.Provides an understanding about the promise of adolescent musicians to facilitate an intergenerational music intervention for adults living with dementia, suggesting mutual benefits and scalability of this intergenerational design.Describes the characteristics of the adolescent musicians, informing future research studies and community programs of the qualities of adolescents for recruitment.