National Palliative Care Week
This week we celebrated National Palliative Care Week, with the theme “palliative care; it’s more than you think.”
Thank you Palliative Care Australia for the opportunity to discuss the benefits of palliative care and celebrate the amazing dedication of all those working and volunteering in palliative care across Australia. Quality palliative care is not only a synonym for end of life care, it is so much more than that!
We took the opportunity to share some ways Registered Music Therapists improve quality of life for people living with life limiting conditions.
1. Legacy creation
Legacies may be tangible products created for a specific purpose such as a gift or for a persons funeral. They may include memories and physical items that validate a life and assist grieving people through offering a comforting connect with the deceased. Music therapists use songwriting & recording, heartbeat recordings, creating songbooks and/or playlists with music significant to the persons life to create legacies.
2. Symptom management
Quantitative and qualitative studies have shown music therapy can reduce physical discomfort; pain; and terminal restlessness for people accessing palliative care services. Music therapy may also be beneficial for people with breathing difficulties and can improve immune system function.
3. Improving quality of life
There is an areas Registered Music Therapists offer significant support by addressing psychosocial and emotional needs. Evidence suggests music therapy improves a persons mood, emotional wellbeing, social interaction, spiritual or existential wellbeing and reduces anxiety. Furthermore, music therapists can support people with emotional coping and life review through playing or listening to familiar music, singing, playing instruments, songwriting, lyric discussion, playlist creation and much more.
4. Facilitating meaningful memories
In music therapy sessions we use music as a tool to facilitate moments of joy that can act as a lasting positive memory for loved ones. A study found that bereaved caregivers experienced music as memorable and lasting.
If you or your loved one have a life limiting condition, reach out to discuss how we can support you through music therapy.
