A Phenomenological Analysis of Older Adults' Lived Experience in Music Therapy

With population aging, policies and practices that support healthy aging can be strengthened by creating accessible environments and incorporating the voices of older adults. This phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of 12 Brazilian older adults participating in a group music therapy process. Over 3 months, a music therapist facilitated 12 weekly music therapy sessions for a group of 12 older adults. Each session lasted an hour and included songs based on participants' musical preferences. Beginning with the 6th session, the group engaged in writing a song addressing the aging process and ageism, which was later recorded and publicly performed. At the end of the process, individual interviews were conducted. Data analysis, supported by the artificial intelligence tool GPT-4, revealed that the group music therapy promoted psychological well-being, facilitated new friendships and social support, retrieved autobiographical memories, and stimulated social activity. Participants considered the collective therapeutic songwriting process as an opportunity to raise awareness about aging and combat ageism. These findings suggest the potential of the music therapy process to foster meaningful social connections, enhance psychological resilience, and promote narratives related to aging and ageism.