Coro Health Brings Benefits of Music Therapy to the Masses with Web-Based Audio Platform

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Researchers have long known that music and spirituality have therapeutic effects on an individual’s health, but for most healthcare providers, traditional one-on-one therapies have been too costly and difficult to implement. To address the problem, Coro Health, LLC has developed a suite of web-based audio products that delivers individual music prescriptions, spirituality and other media to thousands of residents in long-term care facilities.

“With its ability to deliver personalized music streams, Coro Health's service is poised to have a significant positive impact on the mental well-being of large numbers of residents in assisted living facilities.”

The company, which recently raised $2 million in Series A funding from Bob Martin, former CEO of Walmart International, Kent Lance of KPI Austin, and other angle investors, has installed its flagship product, Music First™, in facilities across the country representing more than 1,000 residents, and has entered into clinical trials with the University of California, Davis Center for Mind and Brain to study the therapeutic benefits of music on Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

With more than 70 million baby boomers projected to enter the long-term care market over the next 20 years, Coro Health’s low-touch technology solution offers caregivers and healthcare professionals a host of new tools that extend and expand current therapeutic programs. Music First, CoroFaith and CoroMedia offer a rich choice of content modules that can be delivered directly to a resident’s room or group activity area and automatically updated via wireless computers and scheduling software.

Prescriptions are developed by a team of board-certified music therapists and music and media designers with content tailored to an individual’s schedule, needs and preferences, in conjunction with their existing plan of care. These therapies can also be extended to group settings to aid cognitive stimulation and socialization. Sample content includes: music, spirituality, education, current events, audio books, and personalized affirmations from local churches and faith groups.

“Our brain research indicates that playing a person familiar music that evokes strong personal memories engages parts of the brain that are important for maintaining a sense of self and experiencing emotions,” said Dr. Petr Janata, a cognitive neuroscientist in the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California, Davis, and member of Coro Health's Medical Advisory Board. “With its ability to deliver personalized music streams, Coro Health's service is poised to have a significant positive impact on the mental well-being of large numbers of residents in assisted living facilities."

How It Works

Coro Health’s technology adapts to the resident and can deliver content anywhere throughout a facility. The system provides customizable audio hardware for all levels of patient needs including speakers, pillow speakers, headphones and adjustable volume control and can play content according to a pre-determined schedule or on-demand as needed for therapeutic purposes. Automated updates keep the media current and appealing, while caregivers can easily adjust content, times and delivery location (individual or group areas), or provide feedback directly to a resident’s therapist to make modifications as needs and situations change.

For residents and facilities, Coro Health’s benefits can include:

Reduced Medication – studies show that individualized therapeutic music can reduce the amount of pharmacological intervention required for certain residents, providing a more natural process of coping with a wide range of issues.

Lower Incidence Rates – studies show that therapeutic, individualized music can reduce anxiety and related incidences that are expensive and time consuming for facility owners/operators.

Increased Memory Recall – research shows that therapeutic, individualized music can have a dramatic effect on memory recall for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Better Pain Management – research shows that therapeutic music can reduce pain perception, thereby reducing the need for traditional treatment options.

Fewer Sleep Disorders – individualized Music First programs are designed to help alleviate wake and sleep disorders by using volume, tempo, key, instrumentation and vocalization to ensure smooth transitions and help reduce medication.

Improved Depression – custom music and media options tailored to individual preferences can provide overall mood elevation and cognitive stimulation.

Stronger Heart Health – cardiovascular research shows that changes in blood pressure, heart rate and blood flow through arteries can be improved with the correct musical intervention.

Greater Social Interaction – content such as audio books, current events, short stories, old radio shows and educational lectures is specifically designed to help activity directors and caregivers increase social interaction between residents.

“The power of individualized music and media is not just a research-driven theory; it’s something we see every day in our partner facilities across the country,” said David Schofman, CEO of Coro Health. “We have residents who don’t know their name but can sing every line to a certain song, and residents who could not sleep without unhealthy amounts of prescription drugs now sleep through the night. In addition, memory care facilities have seen dramatic reductions in incident rates due do our sundowning programs. We are on the cusp of a very exciting culture change in long-term care facilities and services, benefitting both patients and caregivers alike.”

For more information or to request a demo, visit: www.corohealth.com.

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About Coro Health

Coro Health, a leading therapeutic music and media provider, offers a broad suite of products aimed at improving the quality of life of residents in long-term care facilities. Working with Board Certified Music Therapists, neurologists and content experts, Coro develops individual prescriptions for residents based on the non-music outcome that best fits their existing plan of care. Coro Health is based in Austin, Texas and is a founding member of the Texas Culture Change Coalition. For more information visit https://corohealth.com/.