Music as Therapy International has long provided music therapists to work alongside caregivers in care homes motivated to integrate music into their dementia care provision. When an assisted-living facility in Hyderabad requested the charity’s support in 2018, a culturally adapted approach was essential. ‘Music Helps’ evolved, a digital training tool tailored to the Indian dementia care context. This presentation will outline the development process, lessons learned, and relevance of this initiative to the global music therapy context.

A 5-step co-creation process was used to establish an appropriate model, and to develop training with culturally-informed expertise. With Demenscentrum’s permission to draw on their ‘Mötas i Musik’course for Swedish dementia caregivers, and 15 experts to guide its cultural adaptation, ‘Music Helps’ was designed to equip Indian caregivers with a musical toolkit to strengthen their care practice. Pilot participant feedback assessed immediate impact, with longer-term impact evaluated 12 months later.

Participant feedback evidenced ‘Music Helps’ was accessible, relatable and relevant. Immediate positive impacts were reported for participants and for people living with dementia in their care. One year later, most participants reported using music daily, motivated by the ways it supported their caregiving and helped manage certain symptoms of dementia.

‘Music Helps’’ success inspired its adaptation for caregivers of multicultural heritage in the UK, proving similarly effective. What lessons were learnt about respecting and valuing cultural identity? Digital training innovation enabled traditional music therapy methods to reach a wider audience, crossing borders between cultures and disciplines. Can international collaboration further extend the reach of Music Helps globally?

Attending the 2026 World Congress will be an incredibly exciting opportunity to meet and learn from diverse music therapists representing many of the countries in which we work. I’m looking forward to sharing Music Helps with new audiences, especially those linked to dementia care in India, the UK and South Africa, learning more about how we can raise its profile, extend reach and build on its impact in these very different contexts.

Elsa Hariades