The ARPE study looked at whether weekly harp therapy sessions could reduce behavioral problems in older adults living in memory care units of a nursing home (EHPAD). These residents had moderate-to-severe neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease or related conditions) and displayed disruptive behaviors, especially in the late afternoon and evening.
Harp therapy (harpe-thérapie) is a form of receptive music therapy. During each session, a trained harp therapist plays music live for participants. Unlike other music therapy approaches, residents simply listen - they do not need to move, sing, or play an instrument. Receptive music therapy uses sound to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and stimulate memory and emotions.
The main questions this study aimed to answer were:
Can weekly harp therapy sessions reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms (such as agitation, anxiety, and sleep disturbances) in residents with neurodegenerative diseases? Does harp therapy reduce the use of psychotropic medications (sleeping pills, antidepressants, antipsychotics)? Does harp therapy improve residents' well-being immediately before and after each session? Does harp therapy improve the well-being of care staff and help them manage residents' behavioral difficulties?
What participants did:
Took part in one collective harp therapy session per week in the late afternoon for 12 weeks Were evaluated for behavioral symptoms at the start of the study, at week 6, at week 12, and 3 months after the last session Were assessed for immediate well-being before and after each session Care staff were asked to rate their own well-being twice a week (once after a harp therapy session, once on a day without a session)
The study took place at Villa Éléonore, a single nursing home run by LNA Santé in France, and included all eligible residents from two memory care units.