The COACH: A real-world efficacy study

from the playlist were then played to the residents, but included several totally unfamiliar songs. Reactions to known songs were compared to unfamiliar songs. The second phase explored the degree to which the same residents could independently learn how to operate simple controls (volume, mute, skip). The final phase was to observe the social dynamics around the use of the chair in a common area over a multi-day period. Results: The analysis of direct observations, oral feedback from the residents participating in the study and comments from care staff on duty are presented. The discussion addresses issues of usability by people with different levels of cognitive status and the impact of the music player on family interaction in creating the playlists and during consequent visits. Conclusions: The research suggests that the music player has the potential to enhance the well-being of residents in care homes.