Music Therapy - Creative Art Therapies
Individuals with life-limiting illnesses often benefit from creative arts therapies. These therapies help ease discomfort, support communication, and provide meaningful outlets for emotional expression. Music therapy, offered alongside the medical care of the hospice team, can enhance quality of life by addressing symptoms and supporting overall well-being.
What Do Our Music Therapists Do?
Our therapists use evidence-based musical interventions to enhance quality of life. At Gilchrist Hospice Care, a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) may listen, perform, write, or record music to support each person’s needs. These sessions address social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and cognitive well-being. Research shows that music therapy can benefit individuals both physically and mentally, helping to reduce anxiety, support heart and brain function, and promote relaxation and learning.
Examples of interventions our therapists may use include:
- Songwriting
- Improvisation
- Guided imagery with music
- Lyric analysis
- Singing
- Instrument play
- Relaxation techniques
How Music Makes a Difference
For many of our patients, music reaches them in ways that words no longer can. Most people have experienced how a familiar melody can spark a memory or stir emotion — and the same is true in hospice. We see patients with late-stage dementia sing every word of “You Are My Sunshine,” or individuals who appear unresponsive begin gently tapping their feet to a rhythm. Gilchrist’s music therapists are there in those moments, singing and playing to bring comfort, connection, and joy to patients and their families.
Our music therapy program is funded entirely through the generosity of donors. If you would like to help sustain this meaningful service for patients and families, please make a gift to our music therapy program.
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Learn more about our other additional hospice services.
