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Care Organisation TOOLKIT

Working with DaDOM

Collaborating with DaDOM provides a valuable opportunity for care organizations to enhance daily practices by integrating music into care routines. Whether your organization hosts a DaDOM student or simply accesses DaDOM’s resources, the goal is to enrich the lives of clients, residents, patients, and care workers through the use of music. Music in care can positively impact not only those receiving care but also the well-being and work experience of caregivers.
 
How can you work with DaDOM as a care organisation?
Your organization can collaborate with DaDOM in various ways. If your care team is interested in integrating music into daily practices, DaDOM offers flexibility and support to enhance your care routines. Below are some ways to work with DaDOM:

  • Hosting a DaDOM student: Welcoming a DaDOM student allows your care team to experience firsthand how music can be incorporated into daily care activities. The student will apply what they’ve learned in real-world scenarios. They can inspire staff and care workers with fresh ideas on how music can enhance care practices and improve the well-being of both those receiving and providing care. DaDOM students act as ambassadors for music in daily care, promoting its benefits and encouraging your team to incorporate it into their routines. The student will also have specific assignments provided by their school that they need to complete as part of their internship, giving your organization a structured way to engage with music-based care. The process of the student’s internship is organized and implemented according to country-specific requirements and procedures, ensuring that both the student and your organization follow appropriate guidelines.

  • Collaborating with a school that offers the DaDOM module: If your organization is interested in receiving DaDOM students, you can connect with schools that offer the DaDOM module. These schools provide students trained to integrate music into care settings, offering your team fresh perspectives and approaches to music in care.

  • Accessing DaDOM resources: For further guidance or to explore how music can be integrated into your care practices, DaDOM partners are available to support your organization. You can access training materials, case studies, and other resources to help you successfully implement music in care, with or without hosting a student.

  • A DaDOM student is trained to incorporate music into everyday care practices. As part of their internship, they will:

     

    • Use simple musical interactions—such as humming, singing, or playing recorded music—during routine tasks (e.g., personal care, meals, or group activities).

    • Identify and incorporate the musical preferences of clients, residents, or patients to enhance their well-being.

    • Use music during daily tasks to create a calming and positive atmosphere, helping to reduce anxiety, agitation, or stress for both clients and care workers.

    • Complete specific assignments during their internship that focus on applying music in real care settings, ensuring structured learning and practical experience.
       

    DaDOM students act as ambassadors for music-based care, advocating for the use of music in everyday tasks. They inspire your team to explore new ways of incorporating music into care, creating an environment that benefits both caregivers and those they care for. The student will work closely with your staff and clients, sharing insights and demonstrating how music can improve the care environment. With the right support, they can inspire your team to explore new approaches to care.

    What can you expect from a DaDOM student?

  • DaDOM students rely on a supportive and open environment where they can apply their skills and develop their confidence in using music as a tool in care settings. As a care organization, you are expected to provide mentorship and guidance throughout the internship. Students also look for opportunities to collaborate with staff, receive feedback, and be involved in discussions on how to use music effectively in care routines.


    It's important that the care organization:

     

    • Provides opportunities for the student to practice using music in daily care.

    • Encourages open communication between the student, mentor, and other staff members.

    • Supports the student’s self-assessment and reflection on their progress during the internship.

    • Offers the student the opportunity to complete their DaDOM-related assignments within the care setting.
       

    A mentor who is open to new developments in care practices, especially in using music, is key to the student's growth

    What does a DaDOM student expect from you?

  • Internships are a vital part of a DaDOM student’s education, providing them with the opportunity to put theory into practice and develop the skills they’ll need in their future care careers. While on placement, students are required to acquire and demonstrate key competencies related to music-based care.

     

    By hosting a DaDOM student, your organization plays an important role in helping students refine these skills, while also benefiting from their fresh ideas and approaches to integrating music into daily care routines.
    During their internships, DaDOM students focus on developing the following competencies:

    • Knowledge of dementia and other conditions: Students gain an understanding of how music can be used as a complementary tool to support individuals with dementia and other conditions affecting elderly people.

    • Auditory environment awareness: Students learn to listen carefully to the sounds in the client’s environment and differentiate between sounds that might have positive or negative impacts. For example, soothing sounds such as soft music or nature sounds can be calming, while disruptive noises (e.g., dripping water or loud ringing) may cause discomfort.

    • Understanding musical identity: Students are trained to identify the musical preferences of clients and create personalized playlists that can improve the client’s well-being and mood.

    • Using music in daily care: Students apply music through humming, singing, or sound cues during morning care, waking, or bedtime routines. These musical interactions help create a calming and supportive atmosphere.

    • Observation and analysis: Students are equipped to observe changes in the client’s state of mind and analyze how music impacts their emotional and mental condition. This enables them to assess and adjust their use of music in care effectively

    Competencies DaDOM students develop during internships

Checklists for care organisations
Hosting a DaDOM student offers care organizations the chance to explore how music can enhance daily care practices. To help you get the most out of this experience, we've created a set of checklists to guide your organization before, during, and after the internship. These checklists will ensure that your team, resources, and environment are ready to support the student, and that the collaboration benefits both your clients and staff.

 

    • Explore the DaDOM Approach: Familiarize yourself with the DaDOM program and how it can benefit your care organization. The school or student will provide a DaDOM flyer or overview to ensure the mentor understands the context of the student’s assignments and how music will be integrated into care routines.

     

    • Inform and Engage Colleagues: Let your colleagues know that a DaDOM student will be joining the team. Share some basic information about the student’s role and how they’ll be using music in daily care, so everyone knows what to expect.

     

    • Review Available Resources: Assess your current resources to see how they can support the student's work with music in care, such as playlists, radio’s or other relevant tools.

     

    • Consider Engaging a Music Therapist: If relevant, inform any music therapists or professionals within your organization about the upcoming DaDOM student.

     

    • Set Organizational Goals: Define what your organization hopes to achieve from hosting a DaDOM student, such as improving client well-being, creating a more positive atmosphere, or training staff in music-based care approaches.

    1. Before the internship: Preparing for a DaDOM student

    • Create an Open Learning Environment: Ensure the student has opportunities to practice music in daily care routines.

     

    • Mentor with an Open Mind: The mentor should be receptive to new developments in care and welfare, particularly around using music in daily care.
       

    • Encourage Communication: Foster open dialogue between the student, mentor, and staff to facilitate sharing experiences and feedback.
       

    • Promote Self-Assessment: Encourage the student to reflect on their experiences, evaluating their own competencies in using music in daily care.
       

    • Ensure Ongoing Feedback: The mentor should regularly discuss the student’s progress, the use of music in care, and any adjustments that can be made.
       

    • Be Open to DaDOM Assignments: Ensure the student provides and works on their DaDOM assignments. Regular communication with the school might be needed to track progress.
       

    • Support Collaborative Learning: Ensure a safe space for students to ask questions and share their experiences with the nursing staff.

    2.    During the internship: Supporting the student and learning from the experience

  • 3. After the internship: reflecting and implementing learnings

    • Implement What You've Learned: Incorporate any positive changes or strategies learned during the internship into your care practices. Consider whether music-based care should be continued or expanded within the organization.
       

    • Identify DaDOM Enthusiasts: Identify staff members who have become enthusiastic about using music in daily care. These individuals can become internal advocates for the program and help integrate music more widely across your care practices.
       

    • Review the Success of the Internship: Evaluate how well the student integrated music into care, and identify areas of improvement or successes that could shape future collaborations.
       

    Plan for Future Collaboration: Reflect on the internship experience and consider ongoing collaboration with DaDOM schools or partners for future internships or further training

Integrating music into daily care routines offers a unique opportunity to enrich the lives of clients, residents, and care workers alike. Music has the power to foster emotional connections, reduce stress, and improve well-being—not only for those receiving care but for caregivers too. With DaDOM, you can easily incorporate music into your care practices, bringing warmth and positivity to everyday interactions.

Hosting a DaDOM student provides fresh perspectives and practical ways to use music in care. These students act as ambassadors for music-based care, inspiring your team with new ideas and approaches. Whether or not you host a student, DaDOM’s resources and partners are available to support your journey in making music a fundamental part of your care environment.

By embracing music in care, your organization can create a more compassionate, connected, and uplifting experience for everyone involved. Explore the possibilities and let music become an essential tool in providing better care!

Download the checklist here

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