Music Attuned Technology to predict and treat agitation in people with moderate to severe dementia

The MATCHplus program translates music therapy principles into a MATCH Training program and digital platform (MATCHplus App), enabling care staff to use music intentionally during care. Care staff completed the MATCH Training program online (~30 minutes) and then were asked to use the MATCHplus app and learned MATCH Strategies (singing, matching music to preferences and needs, music playlists) in all personal care interactions with enrolled patients; in response to agitation detection system alerts; and as deemed required during an 8-week trial period. 

The MATCHplus in Professional Care trial was successfully completed at SALHN Repat Neuro-Behavioural Unit with 29 enrolled care staff and 10 enrolled patients. 27 care staff and 9 patients completed the trial. Care staff found the MATCH Training and App acceptable and easy to use with median acceptability and usability ratings of 4/5 across most domains.  

Over the 8-week trial, staff facilitated 547 MATCH sessions, with 67% of sessions rated by staff as having a positive effect on the patient(s). At the end of each MATCH session, staff were prompted in-app to rate the impact on the patient as ‘positive’, ‘neutral’ or ‘negative’ based on their own intentions for using MATCH and observations throughout the music experience; this may include observing changes in patient mood, affect, engagement and alertness, interaction quality, agitation and distress.  

Staff use of music in personal care increased substantially during the trial period, which was expected given this was an adherence focus in the protocol. As this was a feasibility study, the project was not designed to formally test effectiveness. However, patient outcomes showed a positive direction of change over the trial period. Staff knowledge of using music in dementia care also improved (Median quiz score change: 65.5-69.8), indicating MATCH’s potential to build workforce capability. No meaningful change was observed in job satisfaction scores during the trial. This suggests broader workplace factors, such as workload, organisational support and workplace culture, may have a greater influence on staff satisfaction than a single intervention.  

This project demonstrates that the MATCH/MATCHplus system can augment aged care workforce capability in a measurable way. Before the trial, only 8% of staff reported using music in personal care with patients several times per week or more; by the end of the trial, this had increased to 34%, indicating a meaningful shift in practice. Staff knowledge of using music therapeutically in dementia care showed a positive direction of change from pre- to post-trial, suggesting the MATCH Training program builds workforce capability in a non-pharmacological, evidence-based skill set. 

In terms of capacity, MATCH did not add burden to staff workload: 82% of staff reported that using MATCH Strategies during personal care took about the same amount of time as usual care, and 11% reported it took less time. This is significant in a sector characterised by high workloads and competing demands.

The MATCHplus in Professional Care Settings trial is still ongoing at various professional care settings across Western Australia and Victoria. Full trial results will be disseminated in 2027. Commercial development of the MATCH/MATCHplus system is ongoing and expected to be delivered in 2027.