Legacy Projects: Heartbeats Bring Rhythm And Love
Kearsti-Rae (K-Rae) Knowles, MMT, LPMT, MT-BC
Music Therapist and Owner of Safe In Sound Music Therapy LLC
One of the responsibilities of a hospice music therapist is to provide mindful attention to the developmental needs of our patients. Oftentimes, people hear “developmental needs” and think of children. However, we continue to have typical developmental needs throughout our entire lifespan! These needs may include physical touch, cognitive stimulation, spiritual needs, or more specific things like needing that 2:00 pm BINGO group- no exceptions! As the disease progresses, these needs are often unmet due to limited resources, inability to modify activities or familial discomfort.
Recently, I was in a session with a patient who was transitioning. She was non-responsive and experiencing moments of panic and anxiety, especially when physical contact was discontinued. Her daughter was also at the bedside and experiencing anticipatory grief and anxiety. Midway through the session, this patient’s 3-year-old great-grandson arrived in her room and promptly stated (in a way that only 3-year-olds can): “Hi. Grandma is dying.” His mother quickly scooped him up and tried to sit quietly with him, but I re-engaged him and asked him if he knew “You Are My Sunshine.” He did, and the whole room sang it together. I asked if he wanted to help write a song for Grandma, and he excitedly agreed. He ran over to me as I opened my GarageBand app and showed him how to play various instruments. That little boy put together a beautiful string-and-piano piece, which he then sang “Baby Shark” over (a favorite of his and the patient’s). After this interaction, everyone in the room was more relaxed- including the patient, whose respirations and agitation had markedly improved in just 5 minutes. The great-grandson got up in bed with the patient and hugged her arm before he left, yelling, “I love you!” back into the room.
Music has this incredible ability to cross-generational bounds, creating connection and calm where anxiety and hesitation previously existed. This song will be combined with the recording of the patient’s heartbeat and gifted to the family as a legacy of their matriarch… and singing buddy.
Serenity Hospice and Home contracts with Safe In Sound Music Therapy, LLC, to provide this vital therapy to our patients and their families. We are pleased to be able to offer this and other therapies thanks to generous donors, as well as granting partners, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and Elea Institute.
