Hospice Music Therapy In Castro Valley, California
Music has the ability to truly bring people together. In the case of a Melodia care Hospice patient, music therapy is a goal-directed therapy that takes a person-centered approach. The music therapist uses music to help the patient achieve his or her nonmusical objectives. The therapist may choose to play a patient’s favorite songs at their bedside in order to improve their quality of life or to elicit memories of their childhood. Even better, the therapist can record the patient’s favorite songs and give them to their family as a legacy gift.
Even as the patient’s physical condition begins to deteriorate, music can still have an impact on his or her soul. It is possible to use soothing music played at the bedside of a patient going through a transition to reduce restlessness, assist in regulating breathing patterns and improve the overall environment for the patient and their family.
As the name implies, this is a type of therapy in which patients are assisted in improving their overall well-being through the use of music. However, it should be noted that this is not limited to merely listening to music or watching movies.
Individuals who are nearing the end of their lives may experience feelings of confusion, insignificance or being out of touch with the rest of society. Memory loss is common among the elderly, as is Alzheimer’s disease and other mental illnesses, which frequently cause them to lose their ability to remember things. With the help of music therapy, it is possible to deal with this in a remarkable way. It has been shown time and again to be beneficial in assisting patients in recovering memories that had previously been considered unrecoverable. It is possible to achieve positive and stunning results when Music Therapy is incorporated into a supportive palliative care program.
Music therapy is the application of musical interventions by a credentialed professional in order to achieve individualized objectives. After that, let’s talk about who might be able to benefit from music therapy. We are, without a doubt, the ones who spread the most information about the use of music therapy for seriously ill children and their families. After all, it is this that our mission is centered around! However, the field of music therapy is much broader than that. People who most frequently benefit from music therapy are those who fall into the following categories:
- In hospice settings and palliative care
- Learning difficulties
- Mental health
- Physical disabilities
- Geriatrics
- And more!
Hospice Settings and Palliative Care
It would take a long time to go into detail about each of these topics. As a result, for the time being, the emphasis will be on introducing each area! The first group of people to consider is the hospital population. This could also be referred to as music therapy in the context of medical treatment options. Consequently, music therapists in hospitals may employ specific procedures to treat a particular set of symptoms or a specific range of symptoms.
Music therapy can be used with both children and adults in this situation. This viewpoint also includes music therapy as it is practiced within the context of palliative medicine. Palliative care is a medical approach that focuses on providing relief from symptoms such as pain, physical stress and mental stress rather than curative treatment. It is appropriate at any point in the course of a severe illness.
Learning Disabilities
A large number of music therapists work with people who have learning disabilities. Patients with learning disabilities are seen by music therapists in the community, as well as in specialized facilities. Currently, a music therapist working with this population would assist the client in addressing communication and emotional difficulties, as well as behavioral challenges. The primary medium of these sessions is music, which is either improvised or composed by the therapist, depending on the situation.
Mental Health
Music therapy can also be beneficial in the areas of child and adult mental health, among other things. In this situation, a music therapist can choose from a number of different approaches, depending on his or her personal preferences. In the various approaches, the therapist selects a variety of activities with the goal of providing the client with positive experiences that will allow him or her to recognize his or her own abilities.
Physical Disabilities
It is also possible for patients with physical disabilities to benefit from music therapy. Music therapy can be used to aid in the recovery of both physical and psychological ailments. As a result, music therapy can be beneficial in the development of coordination as well as the increase of muscular strength and range of motion. Music can also aid in the improvement of breathing, as well as providing a social outlet and emotional release for those who have physical disabilities. The use of certain instruments can aid in the exercise of specific parts of the body and the attainment of physical goals.
Geriatric Care
Another setting in which music therapy is commonly used is in the care of the elderly. One of the most common applications of music therapy in this setting is the treatment of dementia. A music therapist can assist clients suffering from dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, in developing a narrative that they would not have been able to develop otherwise, according to the American Music Therapy Association. While these patients lose abilities such as the ability to communicate easily verbally, “musical functioning often remains intact and can be the last faculty to deteriorate,”. The emotional nature of music allows a music therapist to use it to help a patient accept his or her condition and, as in other settings, to allow for emotional and spiritual support to be provided.
Today, a large number of music therapists work in the fields that we have just discussed. Nonetheless, music therapists can be found in a variety of settings, including pre-natal care, forensic psychiatry, neurology, addiction management and the prison system. Because it is a relatively new profession, it is possible that music therapy will grow in prominence in the areas discussed here and even expand into other areas where music can have a positive impact. For example, a culture-centered approach could aid in the reconstruction of communities that have been torn apart by conflict. The possibilities for music therapy are virtually limitless!!
Music Stirs Memories
The most effective music is that which was played during the patient’s adolescent and young adult years. This is music to which the patient has danced or sang, and it has the potential to elicit memories.
Music Affects Mood
In addition to increasing heart rate, circulation, blood pressure, and the release of endorphins, having a patient play a drum can also improve their mood.
Music Soothes Minds, Body And Spirit
Music therapists are educated and trained to collaborate with the hospice care team in order to provide the best possible care. They are certified as health professionals in order to be able to work in any healthcare setting and address the physical, emotional, spiritual and cognitive needs of the patients they work with.
Who Can Receive Music Therapy?
Music therapy has the potential to be beneficial to patients. Music is non-threatening and universal, affecting people of all cultures, religions, and countries in a variety of ways. It is also unique in the ways that it affects our lives.
Benefits Of Music Therapy
Music therapy is one of the unique services provided by Aspire Home Health & Hospice. Individualized goals are achieved through music therapy, which is a clinical and evidence-based application of musical interventions. These objectives can be met by engaging in musical activities such as listening and moving to music, singing and creating music. A few of the advantages that music therapy can provide will be discussed in detail.
Stress Management
When it comes to stress management, listening to music is a relatively common practise, even when it is not done in a therapeutic setting. A constructive and effective way to manage stress is to listen to music in the context of therapy with a trained professional.
Pain Management
Researchers conducted an experiment to determine whether there was a link between music therapy and pain management. Patients who received music therapy experienced a statistically significant reduction in pain and anxiety compared to patients who did not receive music therapy, the researchers discovered after testing 44 people, 23 of whom received music therapy and 21 of whom did not receive music therapy. Despite the fact that the difference was not significant, 87 percent of those who took part in the study and received music therapy reported that listening to music was beneficial to them.
Muscle Relaxation
Deep breaths and meditation help me to relax when I’m feeling tense or have muscle aches. Music therapy is not the same as meditation because there are some significant differences, but there are some similarities between the two practices. Music therapy can involve breathing or moving your body in response to music, which can aid in the relaxation of muscles and the relief of tension.
Lower Blood Pressure
With music therapy, systolic blood pressure can be reduced on average by 6.58 mmHg while diastolic blood pressure can be reduced slightly on average. Increased blood pressure affects nearly 80 percent of people over the age of 65, making music therapy an excellent complement to medically prescribed medication when used as directed by a doctor.
Improve respiratory health
In hospice care, when a was younger, the patient used to play the saxophone. In order to help us improve our breath control so that we could hold longer notes, he or she would have us breathe in time to some music while we were working with them. As a result, we noticed immediate shifts in our breathing patterns and were able to maintain our concentration for longer periods of time while writing.
Where Does Music Therapy Take Place?
Hospitals, schools, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, mental health centers and residences for people with developmental disabilities are the most common places where these services are provided. Many places employ music therapists, including hospice services, educational institutions, and private practices.
Is Music Therapy Outpatient Or Inpatient?
Music therapy can be provided as an outpatient service or as an inpatient service depending on the program. Music therapy sessions may be scheduled during the day (much like a counselling appointment) or you may be required to travel to the location where the music therapy sessions are being held (such as a hospital or school). Music therapy sessions are sometimes held in groups.
In Hospice, Music Therapy Is A Proven Method
Melodia Care Hospice offers music therapy as an additional service to our patients and their families, with the goal of reducing anxiety and improving overall comfort levels. When you play favorite songs that are familiar to the patient, you can help them rekindle memories associated with that music. You can also help them by playing an instrument or simply talking about musical experiences or stories that go along with specific songs.
Academic studies have demonstrated that music therapy can improve the quality of life for patients in hospice care, with a greater benefit being observed the more frequently music therapy is used. This benefit and the significance music can have in the lives of our patients are both recognized by Melodia Care Hospice, and both are incorporated into every care plan.
If you have a loved one in need of music therapy and other hospice care services, make a hospice referral to Melodia Care Hospice today to begin the admission process. Melodia Care Hospice & Palliative Care can be reached at 1-888 635-6347 if you or a loved one is in need of hospice music therapy or end-of-life care. If you would like to learn more about Melodia Care, please visit our website at: https://melodiacare.com/
You can reach us at any time by contacting us through our 24/7 online customer support chat or by calling 1-888 635-6347 (MELODI-7) & Melodia Care Hospice.