The Tennessee Arts Commission was awarded a $1M grant by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) through the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) to implement a 4.5-year program, the Tennessee Person-Centered Music Program (TPCMP). This program runs from February 1, 2019 – June 30, 2023, and offers Tennessee nursing home residents, including those with dementia and Alzheimer’s, personalized music through digital devices to deliver individualized playlists to reduce medication usage and adverse behaviors while improving quality of life and health outcomes. The program is offered to all TN nursing homes, with approximately 147 nursing homes to be reached during the course of the grant. Nursing homes must self-select into the program, sign a participation agreement, and train staff to participate.
Outcomes for this project include:
- Reduced reliance on antipsychotic, anti-anxiety, and anti-depressive medications
- Reduced physical, verbal, and other adverse behavioral symptoms of participating residents
- Increased access to activities that engage residents and enhance person-centered care by staff
Key implementation partners are the TN Commission on Aging and Disability and the TN Health Care Association. For more information about the program and how nursing homes can participate, visit tnpersoncenteredmusic.org or at the TN Arts Commission contact, Kim Johnson at 615-532-9797; kim.johnson@tn.gov.