Two examples of music in Hospice
Making the Best of Our Time
Hospice is a place where our friends and neighbors go to make the best of the time they have left on earth. Music has the power to restore our memories and emotions, and brings out the best of our lives. It transports us in time, and lets us relive our experiences, loves, and friends.
Listen to what music can do in the Hospice setting to bring happiness and comfort into patients’ lives.
Two Different Experiences
A male hospice patient was reclining in a wheelchair, eyes closed, unaware of his surroundings, saying “Hey………Hey………Hey………Hey” over and over. I played some familiar jazz music with a good tempo, and his eyes flew open. He looked at me quizzically, then lay back again. He smiled a bit. His foot started keeping time. He looked at me periodically and smiled. I learned he was a musician. Surely the music reminded him of his playing days.
A woman in hospice was non-verbal, confused and disoriented. She struggled to get out of bed, and the nurse frequently repositioned her in bed so she wouldn’t get out. The first time I played for her, I didn’t know what to play (I was just starting my internship, and had a lot to learn). My music was not effective this first time.
I thought about the patient’s needs that night, and returned to play again the next day. She still struggled to get out of bed, disoriented and anxious. This time, I selected the right music – designed to reduce anxiety – and after 40 minutes, she stopped struggling and fell asleep.
Two days later, I returned. She had definitely turned the corner. She was actively dying. I played for her as she drew her last breath. It may have been my imagination, but I think that just before she passed, she fluttered an eyelid, as if to acknowledge my presence. Probably not – at that point she was letting go and turning inward. But still….
Music in Hospice Could be a Common Experience
Music in Medicine makes possible the training of musicians to provide this kind of quality of life experience in Citrus County. If you are a musician, and interested in how you can make a difference, please contact us. If you would like to donate, please go here.
