On Death: An Individual’s Journey

Beginning in 1948, the concept of death and dying moved out of the shadows of our culture into acceptance of death with dignity. In that year, a physician in England, Dame Cicely Saunders, began focusing on the terminally ill. She developed the concept of treating them with dignity, tending to their emotional and spiritual needs. And she offered palliative care to minimize any pain and discomfort associated with the transition to death. What a difference her concepts make.

Out of the Shadows: Acceptance

Today hospice patients receive care that gives them the freedom to transition to death in their own ways.  Care focuses on comfort, not curing.  Music fits into the comfort that hospice provides by supporting the patient as she shifts through the stages of dying.

In the early stages of the dying, people may be quite alert and social. Music played during this stage focuses on relaxation or entertainment.  But at some point, the patient may have anger issues if she has not yet accepted death.  We play a specific style of music to calm her.  As the patient progresses toward the final days, the patient withdraws more and more from the real world and turns inward.  Words become meaningless and the sense of touch and hearing remain the only pathways to communicate with a departing friend. Here, music becomes increasingly important.  Often the patient is anxious and confused and again we play music that calms her and puts her to sleep.  While she rests or sleeps the music comforts and maintains the calm.

As a patient begins the final passage, as breathing becomes irregular, we match the music to her breathing pattern, supporting her. We simplify the music  to help the patient transitition away from consciousness.  As the patient lets go, we don’t want to play music to force her to mentally come back.  Time to go – gently – on her terms.

Farewell – or is it Hello?

No one knows how this journey ends. Maybe this is just a new beginning.  As therapeutic musicians, we know that we have helped sooth a weary traveler when we play hospice.  If you would like to know more about to becoming a therapeutic musician, click here.  If you can donate to help support this worthy work, please donate here.