Community Music Therapy program is a new branch of VNA Music Therapy. It is a donor supported program that is also partially funded by the Indian River Hospital District. This unique program focuses on at-risk populations in Indian River County, including the indigent, people with mental health issues and those struggling with addiction. The first of what we hope will be many collaborations, are two group sessions held at the Mental Health Association in Vero Beach. These will be divided into two main groups, adults and teenagers. The aim of both groups is to utilize music as a positive coping skill. This might include collaborative instrument playing exercises, such as a drum circle.
Another collaboration will be offered as part of the Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Association of Indian River County. Participants meet at the association’s local office for scheduled groups where VNA music therapist will utilize music with patients to mitigate issues associated with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia. For example, a music therapist might treat lack of mobility and gait abnormality, two common symptoms of Parkinson’s and late-stage Alzheimer’s, with rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS).