A Case Study of Song Recall Activities of Older Adults with Mild Neurocognitive Disorder: Focusing on the Identification and Application of Future Resources Through Experiencing Positive Emotions

This study was conducted to confirm what kind of changes the song recall activity, centering on the identification of future support resources and positive emotional experiences brought to older adults with mild Neurocognitive Disorder with depression. The subjects were three older adults with mild Neurocognitive Disorder. The music therapy program consisted of 7 sessions with song recall, positive emotional experiences and expressions, and creating lyrics through positive self-expression activities. Geriatric Depression Scale(GDS) was conducted before, after, and upon completion of the session. Moreover, based on the recorded conversation and recalled memories, the process of emotional changes and identified future psychological resources and their meanings were analyzed. The findings are as follows. First, the participants continuously expressed positive emotions such as joy, appreciation, and confidence unlike the previous state of depression. Second, the participants recalled in detail by linking the songs with meaningful memories that provided them comfort and were able to identify, discovering the psychological support resources. Third, it was also confirmed that musical products with positive lyrics created by embracing the present self were also used as positive psychological resources. This study suggests that the positive emotions experienced in song recall can be used as a future-oriented psychological resource.