Hospice Music Therapy In Concord City, California

Individuals who are nearing the end of their lives may feel confused, irrelevant, or out of touch with the rest of the world. In the elderly, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other mental illnesses are common and they frequently rob them of their memories. It is possible to handle this in a remarkable way with music therapy. It has frequently been shown to be beneficial in assisting patients in recovering memories that had previously been considered to be lost. Results are positive and stunning when Music Therapy is incorporated into a compassionate hospice care program.

What is Music Therapy?

As the name implies, this is a type of therapy that uses music to assist patients in improving their overall well-being. It should be noted that this is not limited to simply listening to music. Instead, patients will engage in a variety of activities that are related to it, such as the following:

Performing with musical instruments
Singing
Dancing
Writing songs
Participating in music debates

These activities allow the patient to redirect their mind on more positive things as a result of their participation. This can then assist them in greatly improving their overall well-being.

Music Therapy is well-known for its ability to alleviate pain and suffering throughout the weeks, hours and minutes leading up to the end of a person’s existence.

The Benefits of Music Therapy

Music therapy in hospice and palliative care has been shown to reduce pain, fatigue and anxiety while also improving a person’s mood, spirituality and overall quality of life according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health who examined the findings of 11 independent empirical studies. The importance of this becomes even more apparent when people approach their final weeks, hours and moments of life.

Musical therapies may include collaborative composition with the patient as well as singing songs that are known to the patient. Many hospice patients, both inpatient and at-home, thrive when given the opportunity to write a song to be left for their loved ones. In reality, Melodia Care Hospice reports that their actions have resulted in a significant improvement in the health of their patients. Some patients are only able to smile, laugh or otherwise interact with their environment when they are participating in a heart-opening music therapy session.

The act of simply listening to music has been proved to have a wide range of health advantages on its own. These advantages include everything from physical to mental and emotional well-being. These advantages can be gained by engaging in the music-creation process, as well, as a result of this.

Stress Reduction

Making and listening to music can both assist to relax your thoughts and reduce your tension. You will also notice a substantial improvement in your mood. All of these things contribute to lowering the amount of stress that you are under and enhancing your overall health and wellness.

Better Heart Health

It is common desire when you are listening to music to move your body in time with it. This activity has been shown to be beneficial to heart health. It will, in particular, assist you in altering your respiration, heart rate and blood pressure levels. If you listen to the correct music, you can keep all of these factors within acceptable limits.

It Helps Manage Pain

People who are suffering from medical illnesses frequently have to endure tremendous discomfort. Music can assist them in diverting their attention away from the pain and alleviating the agony that they are experiencing. What’s even better about this is that it has the potential to increase the effectiveness of the medication as well. The approach can be used in both inpatient and outpatient settings, depending on the patient’s needs.

Improves Memory And Cognition

Senior Citizens frequently battle with memory and cognition problems on a daily basis. Even though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, music can assist people refresh their memory. This also has the added benefit of improving cognition. These enhancements help to alleviate the symptoms of mental illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

How Music Therapy Is Done?

Music therapy is available in a number of different formats. Each will be appropriate for those who are suffering from a specific ailment. Those who are bedridden, for example, can choose for passive therapy, which involves just listening to music. Patients who prefer a more active type of therapy will benefit from sessions that are more involved in nature.

Analytic Music Therapy

If you are participating in this sort of treatment, you will be encouraged to express yourself by singing or playing an instrument. You are free to present things in whatever way you see fit in this section. The therapist will next guide you through the process of reflecting on and discussing these thoughts.

Neurologic Music Therapy

This sort of therapy is based on neuroscience principles. A major emphasis will be placed on the perception of music and how it can affect changes in the brain. Once these changes have been initiated, professionals can assist patients in continuing to develop them even when they are not listening to music. NMT is particularly effective when it comes to dealing with motor difficulties. The purpose here is to assist patients in learning motor responses such as tapping their feet on the floor. Patients suffering from illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease may benefit from this technique since it can control involuntary movements.

Nordoff-Robbins Therapy

This method was developed by music therapists Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins with a specific focus on assisting youngsters with special needs. Its primary goal is to assist patients in discovering meaning in the music that they create. In the beginning of the therapy session, you will play an instrument, most commonly a cymbal or a drum. Following that, the therapist will accompany you throughout the session. The play session is more improvisational in this case and you just make things up as you go. This serves as a kind of self-expression, allowing you to let out any pent-up feelings that have been building up inside you.

Bonny Method

This technique, which is more formally known as the Bonny method of guided imagery and music, is a combination of music therapy and another technique. In this case, the patient first concentrates on an image. The therapist then begins to discuss any difficulties that the patient believes are related to the condition with him or her. It is through the use of music that the patient can become more conscious of their thoughts and better think about possible solutions to their problems. The selection of music is critical in this regard. You’re looking for anything that will truly put you in the mood to think deeply about things.

Community Music Therapy

While music therapy is typically provided on an individual basis, it can also be provided in a group setting. In this case, the idea is that music can assist you in connecting with other patients. Once that link has been established, patients can assist one another in dealing with their problems. Something you should be aware of when it comes to community music therapy is that it involves a substantial amount of patient participation. As a result, hospice care organizations frequently include it into other group-based rehabilitation programs. In order to accomplish this, they group patients who have similar diseases together in order to assist them better relate to one another.

What To Expect During Your Music Therapy Session?

One thing you might be concerned about is whether or not you are required to have any prior understanding of music in order to participate in the therapy. Fortunately, you will not require any. These therapies are carried out by trained specialists who are already familiar with music. They will be able to assess which kind of procedures would be most appropriate for your skill level and experience. Before you begin your sessions, the therapist will work with you to determine the specific goals you want to achieve during your time together. For example, you might be seeking for a way to get rid of depression in your life. These objectives influence not just the type of therapy you will undergo, but also the style of music you will listen to during that session. Music therapy sessions are notable for the fact that the facilitator encourages you to use your emotions to impact your actions. In the case of an angry outburst, it is OK to play loud and quickly. This will assist you in letting go of your feelings and coming to terms with them.

Music Therapy And Other Methods

In addition to being utilized as a single approach, music therapy can also be utilized in conjunction with other physical and mental therapies. It may be simpler for patients going through physical rehabilitation to complete their activities if they are accompanied by appropriate musical accompaniment, for example. It can also be beneficial for persons who are experiencing communication difficulties due to conditions such as dementia.

Music Therapy Is Valuable For Patients And Their Families

Many patients find that listening to music, particularly songs from their youth, helps them recollect and share memories with friends and family members. Residents who get music therapy at home, may see a considerable reduction in their stress levels. Anguish can be eased by witnessing a loved one smiling, laughing and singing along with a music therapist during what would otherwise be a difficult time.

Therapeutic recreation and music therapy programs, such as those provided at Melodia Care, are specifically designed to provide persons facing the end of life with a sense of accomplishment and purpose. Taking part in drawing workshops, gaming nights, horticultural courses and pottery sessions can help patients who may not otherwise feel involved and relevant to their treatment find a new focus.

Brighten Your Day With Music Therapy

While not all hospice care facilities offer in-house music therapy, they will be able to put you in touch with third-party professionals that can help you. And you certainly wouldn’t want to miss out on such an excellent chance. Allow the music to uplift you and assist you in improving your overall well-being. Melodia Care Hospice has a number of service options available. Call 1-888 635-6347 (MELODI-7) if you require additional information.