Music Therapy Can Help Make a Person’s Last Days More Peaceful

I have always been interested in the benefits of music therapy. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Portia Diwa, who plays the harp for people who are ill, injured or dying. Portia said that one of her goals as a harpist is to help people feel better and to improve their day.

Credit: Portia Diwa

Then I came across a story in the New York Post about a nurse who comforted a distraught patient by singing to her. Margaret Smith was in a nursing facility awaiting a liver transplant. Unfortunately, her health continued to decline. Her doctors deemed that she could not tolerate the transplant surgery, and her name was removed from the waiting list.

Margaret was crushed and frightened. One of her nurses, Olivia Neufelder, saw how distraught Margaret was and started singing to her. For several hours a day, every day, Olivia would clasp Margaret’s hand and sing. Margaret’s favorite song was, “Dancing in the Sky” by Dani and Lizzy. She wanted it played at her funeral.

By the time Margaret died, she had become calm and relaxed. She referred to Olivia as her “angel.”

Although far from being an angel, I, too, have used music in a medical setting. As a social worker, I have often sat with dying people and sang to them. One hospice patient loved to hear “Amazing Grace.” When I sang it, she would relax in her wheelchair, close her eyes and smile.

Another patient, who suffered from severe dementia, loved Christmas. Her family kept a decorated Christmas tree in her room year round. When I visited her, we would sing Christmas carols. If she didn’t remember the words, she made them up. Her family said that during those visits she interacted more than she did at any other time. Music therapy seemed to unlock her damaged brain and allow her to tap into her happiest memories.

Doctors and other healthcare professionals have long known that music therapy has health and psychological benefits. According to the National Association of Music Merchants, music can treat insomnia, lower the blood pressure, elevate mood, hasten recovery after a stroke, ease pain and promote relaxation.

Music therapy is beneficial for both children and adults
Credit: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital

Medical News Today urges providers to use music therapy more frequently in healthcare settings. Oftentimes health care providers are not opposed to the use of music therapy, but in focusing on meeting the patient’s physical needs, they forget about emotional and spiritual needs. Others don’t know how to access music therapy for their patients.

Whether or not the type of music used matters is still questionable. Many of the studies used classical music, although some used rhythmic beats or slow, relaxing melodies. A couple of studies have found that upbeat music helps to elevate mood. The client’s preferences may also play a part in the effectiveness of music therapy. Margaret Smith, for instance, wanted to hear “Dancing in the Sky” while my client responded best to Christmas carols.

If you or a loved one is in the hospital or a long-term care facility, check to see if there is a music therapist available who can work with you. If there isn’t, you can improvise your own music therapy by listening to your favorite songs on your cell phone or on a portable CD player. Whatever you do, don’t deny yourself the healing power of music.