Experiences
Heartland Hospice Music Therapist Continues to Connect with Patients During Difficult Times
Heartland Hospice Serving Chicagoland Central is finding unique ways to stay connected to patients during this time. Amber Price, Music Therapist with Heartland Hospice, shared her experience of connecting through music following the restrictions to visit with her patients.
“As a music therapist, the thing I love most about my job is the connection I am able to make with my patients and their families through music. Music evokes memories, calms the spirit and assists in symptom management amongst so many other possibilities.”
“Since the novel coronavirus restrictions have greatly limited my ability to see patients, I wanted to do everything I could to still keep that connection alive. Before we were able to do virtual visits, I reached out to the facilities that I frequented and asked if they would be interested in YouTube videos for their residents to follow along to with lyric sheets. I got positive feedback from these facilities and created short YouTube videos with different genres of music in each and sent them to the facilities that I had reached out to. As the weather here in Chicago has become somewhat more tolerable, I have again reached out to those same facilities to see if I would be able to play music in the courtyards with the windows open, so my patients and the other residents are still able to have that connection to music. This is an option we are currently exploring.”
“It has been a game changer once virtual visits became available. During my first virtual visit, I thought I was going to cry as I was so overcome with emotion seeing my patient recognize me and my voice despite having dementia. Knowing that the power of music can fight through these bleak times has given me and the families of my patients hope that there still is a lot to look forward to. I am greatly appreciative of the nurses that have taken the time to utilize this option with me when I know they are busy keeping themselves and the patients safe during their visits. This is the new norm for now and I will appreciate every second I am able to continue to provide even just a smile to these beautiful patients and families.”