Exploring the Healing Power of Music
We all have a song that brings back a flood of positive memories or music we listen to during celebrations or stressful times. There’s more than anecdotal evidence that music can change a mood or help channel a memory. In fact, the power of music is being harnessed in the clinical setting. An essential part of The Care Team is our music therapists, who see patients in our home healthcare and hospice settings.
Music has often been described as a universal language. If you’ve always felt that music has a positive impact on your well-being, you won’t be surprised to hear that music in the clinical setting is used by music therapists, who are trained and board-certified professionals, to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of The Care Team patients.
Music therapy is more than playing a recorded song. It is an evidence-based therapeutic practice that uses musical interventions to address individual needs and improve overall quality of life. At The Care Team, our trained music therapists work with patients, individually or in groups, using a variety of musical elements such as rhythm, melody, harmony, and lyrics to engage clients in therapeutic experiences. Additionally, music therapists use live music making in the therapeutic setting. With training in voice, guitar, piano, and percussion instruments, live music become an important tool to meet each patient’s needs. These experiences, each individualized to meet the patient where he or she is, are designed to facilitate communication, expression, and personal growth.
In the home healthcare and hospice setting, music therapy has many benefits, including:
- Emotional well-being: A music therapist can help patients explore and express emotions in a safe and supportive environment. Patients in hospice may work with a music therapist to turn their memories into a song. A music therapist may use music to match the breathing of a sleeping patient to help keep them calm and relaxed. A beloved song may be used for a dementia patient to give the comfort of something familiar.
- Physical rehabilitation: Music therapy can be a helpful tool for patients receiving physical rehabilitation in the home healthcare setting. Music therapists will incorporate rhythmic patterns, movement, and coordination exercises to enhance motor skills, improve balance and coordination. Drumming is often a tool that is helpful in this setting.
- Cognitive development: Engaging in musical activities stimulates various cognitive processes, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. Music therapy can be particularly effective for individuals with neurological conditions or cognitive impairments because music can help maintain cognitive function and enhance cognitive abilities. Music can soothe the frustration of nonverbal patients and give them other means of expression.
- Social Interaction: Music has a unique ability to connect people and foster social bonds. Music therapy can promote social interaction, communication, and cooperation in group settings. In the hospice setting, music can bond a family through group singing of favorite songs, benefiting the patient and caregivers with positive memories.
- Stress Reduction and Relaxation: Music has a soothing effect on the mind and body. Listening to calming music or participating in guided music-based relaxation techniques can lower stress levels, reduce anxiety, and promote a sense of well-being.
Music therapy harnesses the power of music to promote healing, self-expression, and personal growth. By tapping into the emotional, cognitive, and social aspects of our being, it has the potential to improve quality of life. Music therapy offers a unique and effective approach to address various physical, emotional, and psychological challenges, whether used as a standalone therapy or in conjunction with other treatments. So, the next time you find solace in a favorite song or feel uplifted by a melody, remember the profound impact that music can have on our minds and bodies, which can be particularly useful in a healthcare setting.
Trained and board-certified music therapists are important parts of The Care Team in both the hospice and home healthcare settings. Learn more about our approach and how therapies like music, pet, massage, and aroma by skilled and board-certified therapists help us provide the highest quality care available.
