Why music in end-of-life care?
The following is a list of musical objectives and interventions used in end-of-life issues. • To reduce pain perception, restlessness, and anxiety through progressive muscle relaxation with music and/or guided imagery • To increase verbal and nonverbal expression of thoughts and emotions through lyric discussion or song writing • To provide spiritual support through listening to music that most reflects that person’s spiritual issues. • To maintain quality of life by letting the patient have a sense of control. Allowing the patient to choose his/her own music or creating a song for the family. • To decrease the sense of isolation by having others join in with instrument playing or singing with the music therapist and family. • To provide bereavement follow up. Planning the music for the funeral is one aspect of bereavement support as is creating a song with the family about the loved one who died.
