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.”

Arden Courts of Glen Ellyn had a patient who was nearing end-of-life. Heartland Hospice serving Chicagoland Central was brought in to help support the patient. The patient’s wife promised her husband he would be able to pass at home and began to worry that she waited too long to bring him home. Arden Courts and Heartland Hospice set-up transportation with the local ambulance company and reassured his wife that he would be safely transported home. They also worked with the patient’s local hospice agency in Indiana to make sure his transfer went smoothly once he was home. They were both happy when he made it home safely to be together again for his last wish.

This Veteran’s Day, Heartland Hospice and Arden Courts of Glen Ellyn co-hosted a “We Honor Veterans” recognition ceremony for all of the veteran residents. Heartland Hospice Account Liaison, Erin Blair, and Arden Court’s Executive Director, Laura Baisley, joined their teams together to recognize and thank all of the veterans for their service. Veterans at the ceremony represented a range of military troops, including the Army, the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Air Force and the Coast Guard, as well as a wide-range of time periods, including World War II, The Battle of the Bulge, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, Desert Storm and Iraq/Afghanistan.

The ceremony started with Laura leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance and Heartland Hospice’s Music Therapist, Amber, performing several patriotic songs. Throughout the ceremony, each veteran was presented with a Certificate of Recognition and a Remembrance pin. The Arden Courts and Heartland Hospice teams were honored to be able to present the awards and recognize the bravery and selflessness of the veterans who risked their lives to save our country.

Dorothy Lemke Rothwell, at 90, doesn't remember as much about her time in the Army as she used to. "That was a long time ago," she said. But she remembers enough to tear up. "You never knew when you were going to get shot at," she said of her time as a nurse with evacuation hospitals in Europe during World War II.

Dorothy was one of the veterans honored at a ceremony at Arden Courts of Geneva, where she lives. The facility specializes in caring for people with memory loss. Nineteen veterans live there, including one who was in the Australian armed forces.

Heartland Hospice Serving Chicagoland Central bestowed pins and certificates, with the help of Representative Randy Hultgren and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns.

Dorothy grew up in Aurora, Illinois and graduated from nursing school at Copley Hospital, then she joined the Army.

When she was asked what her mother thought of that, she laughed. "Had Mom disapproved, I would not have listened to her anyway."

When Mayor Burns thanked her for her service, she quipped, "Don't thank me. I got myself a nice husband." She met him while both were stationed overseas.

Michael Loughman received two pins, the second being from the federal government. It was issued in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United States' entry into the Vietnam War.

The ceremony included singing the songs of the five branches of the United States' military.

Navy veterans Norman Bodda and Stanley Brenton enthusiastically sang along when the music therapist started "Anchors Aweigh." And Air Force veteran Loughman stood and saluted when "The U.S. Air Force Song" ("Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder") started.

"We'll never forget what you've done for us," Representative Hultgren told the veterans.

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