Music with the dying patient?

romie · Jul 12, 2006

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 · Jul 13, 2006

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 · Jul 13, 2006

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 · Jul 13, 2006

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.

leslie :-D · Jul 13, 2006

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..... :uhoh3:

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???" :rotfl:

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 · Jul 18, 2006

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

leslie :-D · Jul 18, 2006

try:

http://www.mhtp.org/

http://www.healingmusic.org/Library/Articles/WhatIsHealingMusic.asp

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

healingmusic.org looks wonderful. enjoy.

leslie

NOLA RN · Jan 31, 2008

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.

sharona97, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2008

There never was a day in my life at my paternal grandparents house that the same radio station was on, low, but enough to hear.

When my dad died, my brother played the guitar and all of his children sang at the church and then the whole families of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, finished with "Will the Circle be Unbroken at the luncheon.

Lastly, my oldest cousin passed 1 year ago and darn if the same radio was playing on the same station.

Music is a healer.

JSCOOBY · Feb 8, 2008

There is a huge amount of music for the dying out there:

1. "Music for the Dying" by Donalyn

2. "Gifts Of The Angels" by Steven Halpern

3. "Grace Instrumental" - various artists

4. "Ladder of the Soul" by Paul Baker

5. "Music for Healing" by Stephen Rhodes

Hope this helps.

leslie :-D · Feb 8, 2008

i personally do not care for the concept of music for the dying.

music means different things to different people.

yes, music is highly therapeutic.

but i want to know the music my pts like, and not the music prescribed for death, per se.

i have pts who enjoy (and therefore, is helpful) country western, hard rock, and the predictable classical music.

one pt insisted on listening to the ball game.

whatever it takes...

leslie

aimeee, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2008

one pt insisted on listening to the ball game.
whatever it takes...
leslie

I love that!