In working with hospice patients, I have had several patients pick one hospice versus another based on what they have to offer. One of the benefits of some Hospice’s is music therapy. This is new to me, so I thought it may be new to many of you also. Music therapists have become an important party of some hospice teams. Music Therapy is the “use of live music by professionally trained, board certified music therapists (MT_BC) in their care for people living with advanced illnesses” (Blue Ridge Hospice, 2011). Research provides support for music therapy to increase quality of life, alleviate spiritual suffering, provide pain management, and promote relaxation in end-of-life care. Some hospices are using recorded music versus live music based on needs.
Some basic goals of Music Therapy include:
• Decrease Agitation
• Decrease Anxiety
• Compliment Pain Interventions
• Address Communication Needs
• Increase Quality of Life
• Facilitate Grieving
• Assist with Funeral Planning
• Improve Coping with Changes
• Decrease Nausea/Vomiting
• Address Depression
• Decrease Shortness of Breath
• Decrease Isolation/Loneliness
• Address Spiritual Needs
Below is a YouTube video that provides a great overview of Music Therapy. This is kind of a lengthy video, but it is extremely educational and informative. It discusses and reviews one hospice agency’s music therapy program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPYxSEezVeA&feature=youtu.be
Reference:
Blue Ridge Hospice. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.blueridgehospice.org/music_therapy.html.
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