Background
I work clinically as a Music Therapist across a variety of health and social care settings in the North-East including NHS hospitals, residential care homes and community centres. I am interested in the communication potential of music to engage hard to reach groups, for example people living with advanced dementia, and how to support service users to share their experience of care. I am also interested in the support music therapy practice may offer to carers and colleagues in different care settings. I have experience in mixed methods research and my PhD integrated quantitative, qualitative and arts-based data.
I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and I am a member of the British Association of Music Therapy.
Project Summary
As a Dementia Research Fellow my work will continue to explore how music provides opportunities for people with dementia to live healthy lives, build relationships and help maintain independence and dignity. I will also continue to work part-time as a Music Therapist in NHS and social care settings to collaborate with patients, carers and other health care professionals across the region to develop services to address unmet needs.
Areas of interest
- Implementing personalised music-based interventions in residential care settings
- The interactional benefits of group music in residential care settings
- Using music as a resource for people with dementia living at home
- Involving carers in music therapy sessions
- Use of creative research methods to share experience
Publications
Lyons, S., Karkou, V., Roe, B., Meekums, B., & Richards, M. (2018). What research evidence is there that dance movement therapy improves the health and wellbeing of older adults with dementia? A systematic review and descriptive narrative summary. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 60, 32-40. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2018.03.006
Get in touch
Email: [email protected]
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3392-7067