I had a meeting with the director of my care center’s pastoral care department today regarding bringing music therapy into staff bereavement services already offered by pastoral care. I am really excited to now be a part of the services. I’d like to be more integral in the care of those residents in hospice and in creating more support for grieving staff. Just this morning, I had a conversation with a staff member who was angered and emotional about the fast decline and death of a resident. Of course I thought she could benefit from the bereavement services that will be happening, but I also know that there is such little time any staff has to process the losses of those residents in their care. So, I am sure many staff will choose not to participate. I’d love to be able to make such services available and easily accessible to all. The next services are on Friday.
Love to my residents
I was looking through my planner, and I saw I wrote down this quote from one of my really vocal residents: “It’s nice to see you. It was nice to hear you, too. You’re better than no one.” Funny and sweet at the same time.
Humor
I have always felt that humor is an important character in the livelihood of any successful person.
“Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.”
Mark Twain
Do you find laughter, or inspire it, every single day?
Teaching to special needs
I know someone whose son is a musician, studying music education. This person mentioned that her son has been teaching music lessons to children with developmental disabilities, some of whom are profoundly delayed. I immediately asked if he is taking music therapy classes, or is aware of music therapy. Apparently, he is not taking any music therapy related curriculum, but does know about music therapy. I know that he has supervisors, but they are not music therapists, either. Learning this made me uneasy, though I was delighted that this person reportedly loves working with these students. Curious.
A day of observance
I work in a Catholic care center. I, however, am not Catholic. I am also not ready to start talking about or singing about or anything about Thanksgiving, even though it is now officially November. So, I researched All Saints Day (today), and All Souls Day (tomorrow). Knowing that the days are observed in the Catholic faith, I doubted the majority of my residents would take any issue to discussions about the special days.
Certainly, the true definition of the two days is elaborate and, well, based in Catholicism. But I was interested when I read, “All Soul’s Day is a Roman Catholic day of remembrance for friends and loved once who have passed away” (Source). This, of course, is a very simple overview of All Souls Day, and I like it.
In my internship, I worked primarily with hospice patients. Now, most of the work I do is with residents in a care center, some of whom live in the palliative care unit. Many of my residents won’t live through the rest of this calendar year.
I have been searching for ways in which to commemorate the lives of those patients and residents who have died. Perhaps tomorrow, I can create my own version of All Souls Day, and use a portion of the day to spend honoring those people who have passed away.
Do you practice any kind of memorial for passed patients or residents?
My technology age
I am beginning to find more and more uses for technology in my professional (and personal) life.
I recognize there are several music therapy bloggers who write with frequency about newfound apps that benefit their work. I feel way behind the times, because I don’t use many apps on a regular basis. (Tonight I had the urge to buy a metronome app, though.) I do use my iPod and iPhone with my clients for a number of reasons, however I know there is a myriad of options that I am not utilizing.
But, I’m loving the whole online, web presence “identity” I’m developing. I’ve decided to build yet another site that I will dedicate to my performance endeavors. I use the word “performance” not to mean that I am a solo artist. I’m not, nor do I want to be at this point. I do, though, want to provide vocal and/or violin music for special events.
Also, I’m considering using Facebook for these projects. Has anyone had a bad experience using Facebook for professional pages?
My work in the TCU
A few days ago, I provided some description of some of the work I do in the care center. Though the transitional care unit (TCU) where I see residents once a week is inside the care center, the unit is something of a different animal.
In the TCU, the residents live for as many as 90 days. Many of these residents had recently suffered a fall, a stroke, or some other injury or trauma that requires rehabilitation. Because these residents and their families are not preparing them to live on the unit permanently, most of the residents are not active members in the care center community events and activities.
My goals with this group vary widely. I never know who I will see. I can hardly predict the size of the group. The majority of these residents are occupied with other therapies and so are not available for music therapy on the Thursday mornings when I offer it. Rarely do I see the same face two weeks in a row.
For these reasons, I make flash assessments frequently. One of the five residents I gather may need work recovering her ability to articulate clearly following a stroke. Another resident may no longer be able to function on his left side. Still another has become so depressed he sleeps for most of the day.
So, how do I provide to residents in the TCU?
I meet them where they are, first and foremost. If the energy of the group is upbeat, I align myself to that. If it’s contemplative, I follow that lead. For instance, one resident wanted to process how she felt about the drastic change in her voice. She reminisced about how much she sang when she was young. Sometimes these particular groups are filled more so with processing change than anything else.
If the group seems cheerful and cordial with one another, I might distribute handheld percussion instruments. I may target gross motor function, layering more complex movement directionals given observed ability. I might use paddle drums with these residents as well.
When the group is quiet or agitated or confused, I might begin with familiar, topical songs to focus attention. From there, I might move to seeing the residents on a mini 1:1 basis.
I almost always feel excited after leaving this group. I can see active participation from many of these residents, perhaps because they are accustomed to having to work quite hard in their stay on the TCU.
Bereavement for staff
I am really excited to have begun the process of coordinating with the head of our pastoral care department in co-leading bereavement services for staff. 
One of the residents I served passed away unexpectedly on Friday, and I have been consumed with the thought of facilitating monthly music therapy sessions for staff who provide direct cares. I had opportunity to discuss this idea with pastoral care, and was relieved to find out that such bereavement services are provided once every six weeks or so. But, the head of the department seemed very interested in my involvement.
Since my internship, I have been interested in grief counseling and in hospice care. I am happy I am in a position where I can be a part of both communities.
Awesome podcast
I have been listening to WNYC’s “Radiolab” for about two years now, and nearly always find it enthralling. The above link to “Slow” came close to making me cry, especially when the song is created at the end.
I hope you love it.
The week in quotes
Resident: “Are you tired?”
Me: “No.”
Resident: “Really?”
Me: “Nope, not tired.”
Resident: “You look like you could just drop.”
Resident: “You are such a doll. Even with glasses.”
Resident to another staff member: “Come here.”
Staff member: “Yes?”
Resident: “Can I ask you something?”
Staff member: “Sure.”
Resident: “Are you pregnant?”
(The exchange should just end here, but alas, it does not.)
Aghast. Staff member: “No. Why, do I look like I’m pregnant?”
Resident: “Well, sure you do!”
Me, to a colleague of mine: “I am so anxious about this weekend. I am feeling distracted from work.”
Colleague: “Really? Well, can’t you just go through the motions? What you do is pretty mindless, anyway.”
Me: Speechless.
*Colleague and I discussed this exchange later. All is well. But still, a pretty priceless conversation, if you can call it that.
Resident: “YOU LOOK LIKE AN ASS!”
Volunteer: “I always have, always will.”