This presentation explores the needs of hospice patients and how music therapy can be used to meet those needs.

1. Learning about patients
~ Essential knowledge in hospice music therapy ~
2010 AMTA Conference
Yumiko Sato, MA, MT-BC
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2. Characteristics of Hospice Patients
●
Anyone with a life expectancy of six months
or less
●
Common diagnosis for hospice patients
– cancer, heart disease, stroke,
– lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease
– dementia, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, multiple
sclerosis, Parkinson's

3. Dying Process
●
Physical
●
Emotional
●
Cognitive
●
Spiritual
●

4. How does dying process affect
patients physically?
●
Common symptoms
●
Physical signs of approaching death

5. How does dying process affect
patients emotionally?
●
5 stages of coping mechanism
– denial, anger, bargaining, depression,
acceptance
●
lack of interest in life
●
separation from outside world

6. How does dying process affect
patients cognitively?
●
increase confusion
●
hallucination
●
sense of presence
●
preoccupation

7. How does dying process affect
patients spiritually?
●
deepened sense of spirituality
●
needs for clarification
●
fear surrounding death
●
hope for the afterlife
●
patient states that he or she is dying

8. Needs of the Dying
●
The need to be free of physical pain
●
The need to express emotions
●
The need for life review
●
The need for hope
●
The need for a permission to die

9. The need to be free of physical pain
●
Pain reduces the quality of life
●
Music promoted relaxation
– use of music to reduce anxiety and pain
– considerations for musical elements
– use simple instruction & simple music
–
●

10. The need to express emotions
●
Music provides a safe container for
emotional release
●
Use music and verbal techniques to
validate feelings
●

11. The need for life review
●
Life review
– an evaluation of one's life
– a natural and universal process for the dying
●
Musical Life Review
– music evokes memories and feelings
– music therapists play an unique role in
conducting life review
–

12. The need for hope
●
Hope gives patients inner strength to cope
with difficult times
– hope to die peacefully
– hope to see their loved ones before/after dying
– hope to live to finish a project or attend a family
event
– hope to be remembered

13. The need for a permission to die
●
Patients often need to hear that it is okay
for them to die.
●
Use of music to facilitate the “last act of
love”