"Hospice is like a box of chocolates"

I have really come to understand that in hospice, you never know what you're going to get.

I have a client who I just love. He is hilarious. Apparently, he is exceptionally inappropriate with other people who care for him (earning him the title of "dirty old man") but with me he's just downright funny. I ask if he would like some music and he says yes. Then, before I even get the guitar case open he hollers, "Well, come on then!" or "Let's go!" He sits and listens to the music with his eyes closed and responds after a song has completed by saying, "That was beeeeeeautiful" or he'll comment, "That was an oldie but goodie". Sometimes he'll say, "You left me in left field with that one". I'm really not sure how to take that last comment...

On the other hand I see a client who is always in bed, normally asleep, and NEVER responsive. He's a hard one to see because while it's easy just to play some improvised bedside music, its frustrating because it's hard to tell if he even hears it, let alone responds positively.

Last Thursday, I went to go see this client. It was my last stop of the day and the facility is close to home so it's easy to stop by on my way out in the morning or on the way back in the afternoons. I signed into the facility, made my way up to the patient's floor, and found his bed empty. Inside I thought if this guy died and no one told me, I'm going to be frustrated. I ask a nurse passing by where the patient is, and she directs me down to a common area where I have never been before. And there he is! Sitting up in a broda chair. Awake, alert, and oriented x1. WHAT?! I hardly even recognized the man. I introduced myself and he responded! Said a very clear yes to wanting music and talked to me through the entire session. Yes, he was also talking to a few hallucinations, but where did this come from?! He SANG ALONG with a few songs and when I placed my guitar on his lap for vibro-tactile stimulation, he even tried strumming a few times on his own!  I was flabbergasted. We had such a great time together talking about his past and singing songs that I stayed for longer than I have ever spent with him. The time flew by!

I think I floated home... thinking about how different each day is for everyone. You have to go into each session as if this will be the last time you see that patient and do the best for them every time. And honestly, once you think you have someone "all figured out"... you don't. You never know when something will happen from "out in left field".

Yes, hospice is like a box of chocolates... you never know what you're going to get. 

and it's really oh so sweet.



Hi ho, music therapy here...

Today I was playing around with my guitar and playing "The Rainbow Connection". Who doesn't love this song? Seriously.


So, in honor of Kermit I thought I would share about the "Music Therapy Connection(s)". I heard about a music therapist named of John Lawrence, MMT, MTA. His blog is very interesting and has a TON of great information. Also, Mr. Lawrence has been keeping a list of music therapy bloggers, I just updated the list to include this blog as well as Morgan's. If you know of a blog that is missing from the list please add it!


ALSO! Don't forget to catch up on your reading over at Twitter by checking out #musictherapy and of course you can follow me @anniewalljasper and check out my Music Therapy list (which I will continue to add to!)

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I would have never guessed...

This morning when I woke up and got ready for another day at internship, I thought about music. I ran through the quickly becoming memorized songs in my mind. I sang "Paper Moon" as I showered, reviewing the Dm and Cm7 chords in my head. As I drove I thought about "Chatanooga Choo Choo" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"... and how I need to learn more Frank Sinatra.

As we drove to Elgin to meet an imminent patient, who had just signed up for hospice, I thought about creating an environment that would be comforting and peaceful for someone who may die while we were there. As we read over her chart before going into her room I read "90 years old" and preped for my favorites "All of Me" or "Sentimental Journey". I never would have guessed that when her daughters talked about her that she would be described as being someone who while ironing her clothes "jammed" to Van Morrison. Someone who introduced her daughters and even granddaughters to The Doors. We were informed that her new favorite song is "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy".

We talked with the family for a while. Then played a few things... "Proud Mary", a few Beatles songs, as we sang "Brown Eyed Girl" I held the patients hand, stroked her hair, and sang close to her ear (she had lost a lot of hearing previously). Then in between songs I looked up "Save a Horse..." on my blackberry

** Thank you technology**

My supervisor looked at me and asked, "Do you know it?"

"You bet!" I replied.

**Thank goodness I went to Monmouth College (ie: cornfields) and fell in love with country music**

It's actually pretty easy to play on the guitar as long as you can get the strum going - basically it's just a whole lot of fun. The patient's daughter got right up close to her mom and we both sang to her. Full volume, truly "rocking out".

By the end of the song the patient had opened her eyes, her brow unfurrowed, she looked much more comfortable and at ease, and her daughter reported that she had squeezed her hand. We decided to end on a positive note... AND the nurse came in pretty directly after (likely wondering what the hell was going on). I can only imagine what anyone walking by thought! I felt like a crazy person real music therapist. This was what it was all about! Making the patient and their family the experts in their own care and meeting them where they are.As we said goodbye, the daughters (through their tears) could not say enough...

"This is the most relaxed she's been!"

"I know she heard that!"

"That was amazing, she hasn't been awake at all today."

"I hope you can come back"

"Thank you"

After I returned to my car, I shot of a few texts of disbelief to my Mom and Dad.

"I didn't know you knew how to play that song" they texted back.

"Neither did I"

When I woke up this morning I knew which songs I could play for clients. I knew the generalizations we make about people's preferred music and I could go from there. I knew we would enter people's lives and share with them our talent. I knew I would be doing something I loved and hoped would change someone's situation.

I NEVER would have guessed that the songs I knew and the generalizations I made would be thrown out the window and yet I could still do my job successfully.

Cheer's Big and Rich - you're music is truly enjoyed by all generations.