Music Therapy Practices in Gerontology

The theme of this diploma thesis, as the title suggests, is the use of music therapy in gerontological practice. More specifically the thesis is focused on the use of appropriate music therapy techniques with clients of the Seniors' Home Panorama in Tachov. The theoretical part characterizes the field of music therapy, its history and presentsituation in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, the reader is informed about the forms, methods and techniques of music therapy. Another part of the thesis briefly introduces the issue of old age. It deals with manifestations of old age, demographic issues or the senior care in the Czech Republic. The empirical part of the thesis is already devoted to the practical use of music therapy during work with the elderly. In the introduction, the objectives of the work are defined in relation to the target group of clients. By using the method of unstructured observation, it is determined whether the music therapy techniques fulfil predetermined goals. At the end of the work there is the evaluation of contribution of music therapy to this field