[req_read]

Here in the desert we have a harp player who works part time for a couple of local hospices. I have been told (by a hospice nurse) that the effect of her music is phenomenal; i.e. helps people cross. She goes into homes and plays live. I have not seen it myself… but that’s what I am told.

Her URL is: http://www.donese.com/

Her website contains examples of her work.

[indigo girl]

Originally Posted by req_read

Here in the desert we have a harp player who works part time for a couple of local hospices. I have been told (by a hospice nurse) that the effect of her music is phenomenal; i.e. helps people cross. She goes into homes and plays live. I have not seen it myself… but that’s what I am told.

Her URL is: http://www.donese.com/

Her website contains examples of her work.

What a beautiful idea. It is so personal and caring. The dying always seem to be aware of what is going on around them. I am sure that they must feel very loved that someone would do this for them.
My personal take on this, is that music is an energy, and that everything is a form of an energy including the human body.
Dying is leaving a place of denser, mostly slower moving energy to go to a more sublime place of higher energy. The music helps to form a bridge for the etheric energy of that person to cross over on more easily.

[romie]

Of primary concern is the power of music to divert one's attention to pain. Carefully chosen music can actually reduce a patient's report of pain-- I have experienced this effect first hand when I listened to a Dvorak Symphony while suffering from a migrane. At the end of the symphony, my migrane was gone. Additional studies have been conducted that analized specific protein markers in saliva that indicated pain levels. Skilled use of music therapy reduced these protein markers in the saliva.

The other principal is music's ability to alter breath and heart rate. There is a reason why your Tae Bo class is held to fast thumping music-- it gets your heart rate up. Carefully selected music can optimize a hospice patient's heart and breath rate.

Finally, since hospice care is bereavement care for the families, song writing is an opportunity for caregivers and families to express their sadness and grieve.

[pickledpepperRN]

I work nights in critical care. Absent a program we have two battery operated radio/tape/CD players with a selection of music (in my unlocked locker)
We ask patients or family what they like.

My Dad was a musician. He was a hospice patient wit amazing nurses and a caregiver who came to bath him.
When he physically couldn't play his horn he gave up.
The night he died we had a PBS concert on. He driften in and out of consciousness enjoying the music. He hummed along with Chinese classical music.

Years before when his mother was dying at a SNF a volunteer came to entertain the residents. He played "Lady of Spain" on the accordian hitting wrong notes and singing way flat. My "unresponsive" grandmother had a "death rattle" but frowned with displeasure with every off key note. My Dad told me, "Now I know what the nurses say is true. Hearing is the last sense to go."

[suebird3]

We have a free standing Hospice home close to my house, and the visiting Staff have CD and tape players for the clients. The Hospice Home has a "Music Room" that can be utilized by all.

Now that I think about it, I seem to remember an article on Music Therapy about 3 years ago. Have you tried doing a search on CINHAL or through Medscape?

He played "Lady of Spain" on the accordian hitting wrong notes and singing way flat. In regards to this, Spacenurse....he tried! That is all it takes.

Suebird

[pickledpepperRN]

Oh the residents including my grandmother appreciated this wonderful volunteer. Most of her life she played organ and led church choirs.

She also had perfect pitch. Her son, my Dad, also had perfect pitch. When he noticed her response to the off key notes he got his horn from the car. As kids she had taught us to substitue "Daddy" for " "Gabriel blow his horn".
She departed this Earth hearing her sons horn.

I think people who can entertain can brighten their own and others lives performing for residents.

[earle58]

at the icf where i worked, there used to be 2 lols (little old ladies) in their 80's, who used to come in and sing.
no accompanying instruments; just them 2.....
sorry, i love, i mean LOVE, the elderly.
but these 2 souls missed their calling.
i remember thinking there should have been a reality show called, "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING???"
anyway, they volunteered and didn't last more than 2 weeks.

i find that the right type of music is of great benefit.
if i can find a melodic classical, many pts find it relaxing.
but it really has to be appropriate to the situation.

leslie

[zacsmimi]

immenent death like, 24-48 hrs.. to answer your questions. This support is great and Im getting some great feedback - thanks!!

[earle58]

try:

www.mhtp.org/

http://www.healingmusic.org/Library/...alingMusic.asp

http://www.healingmusic.org/Library/...inks/index.asp


healingmusic.org looks wonderful. enjoy.

leslie

[NOLA RN]

As a critical care nurse, I always look for a way to ease the stress of the patients & families. When patients are unconscious, I suggest that family members bring CD players with headphones and favorite music. I have found that it has a soothing effect on everyone. Families are comforted by the fact that the patient will have something other than alarms and the sounds of equipment and monitors to listen to. I am not trained in any way regarding music therapy, so I leave the music selection up to the family. I have also had families bring audio books to the bedside. It gives the family a sense of contributing to care of a loved one in an environment where they can do little.