The soft melody of a guitar filled John’s living room as he closed his eyes, a gentle smile transforming his pain-weary face. For weeks, John had struggled to communicate as his illness progressed, but as the music therapist played his favorite folk songs, he began to softly hum along, occasionally offering words and memories between verses. His daughter Emma sat nearby, tears in her eyes. “I haven’t seen Dad this engaged in weeks,” she whispered. “It’s like the music reached a part of him that medication couldn’t touch.”
Across the Wasatch Front, similar transformations occur daily as Inspiration Hospice’s music and art therapists bring these powerful complementary therapies to patients in their homes. While medical care remains the foundation of hospice services, the healing power of creative expression often provides comfort that transcends traditional treatments.
The Science Behind the Art
Music and art therapy aren’t just nice additions to hospice care—they’re evidence-based interventions with measurable benefits:
Physical Benefits
- Reduced perception of pain and discomfort
- Decreased need for pain medication in some patients
- Regulated breathing and heart rate
- Improved sleep quality
- Stimulation of memory and cognitive functions
Emotional Benefits
- Reduction in anxiety and depression
- Outlet for expressing complex emotions
- Processing of grief, fear, and uncertainty
- Creation of moments of joy and connection
- Sense of control when many choices have been limited
Social Benefits
- Meaningful interaction with family and caregivers
- Creation of legacy projects to share with loved ones
- Reduction in isolation and withdrawal
- Shared experiences that transcend illness
Music Therapy: Harmony in Difficult Times
Lisa Thompson, one of Inspiration Hospice’s board-certified music therapists, explains how this therapy works in practice: “Music therapy isn’t simply playing songs for patients, though that’s sometimes part of it. We’re trained to use music intentionally to address specific symptoms and needs.”
Music therapy sessions might include:
- Live music tailored to the patient’s preferences and cultural background
- Guided music-assisted relaxation techniques
- Songwriting to express thoughts and feelings
- Creating legacy recordings for family members
- Rhythmic entrainment to help with pain management
“Music can reach patients even when words fail,” Lisa notes. “I’ve worked with patients who haven’t spoken in days but will sing along to a familiar hymn or folk song. Music often accesses memories and emotions that remain intact even when other cognitive functions decline.”
For families throughout the Wasatch Front, these musical moments create precious memories. “My mother loved the Utah Symphony her entire life,” shares Michael from Millcreek. “When she became too ill to attend concerts, the music therapist brought classical music to her bedside. Those sessions became sacred time for all of us—moments where we connected through beauty rather than illness.”
Art Therapy: Creating Meaning Through Expression
While music therapy uses sound as its medium, art therapy employs visual expression to provide comfort and healing. James Rivera, Inspiration Hospice’s art therapist, explains the unique benefits of this approach.
“Art therapy gives patients a voice when verbal communication becomes difficult,” James says. “It also provides a sense of accomplishment and purpose during a time when many patients feel a loss of identity and control.”
Art therapy in hospice may include:
- Creating memory books or boxes
- Painting or drawing as emotional expression
- Making handprints or other keepsakes for loved ones
- Collaborative family art projects
- Phototherapy using meaningful personal images
James recalls working with a retired teacher who created handmade cards for each of her grandchildren: “She told me, ‘I may not be here for their graduations and weddings, but they’ll have something made by my hands for those special days.’ Those cards became precious vessels for her love and wisdom.”
Integrating Creative Therapies into Comprehensive Care
At Inspiration Hospice, music and art therapy are fully integrated into our interdisciplinary approach:
- Our medical director may prescribe these therapies to address specific symptoms
- Nurses collaborate with creative therapists to time sessions for optimal benefit
- Social workers and chaplains often participate in sessions to support emotional and spiritual aspects
- Family members are encouraged to participate when appropriate
“We see these creative therapies as essential components of truly comprehensive care,” explains Dr. Ramirez, Inspiration Hospice’s Medical Director. “They address aspects of suffering that medications alone cannot reach—the emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of a person’s experience.”
Bringing Beauty to Difficult Days
One of the most powerful aspects of music and art therapy is their ability to transform the hospice experience from one focused solely on illness to one that includes beauty, creativity, and meaning.
During a recent Magical Day experience, our music therapist worked with a patient who had been a choir director to arrange for members of his former choir to sing in his garden. “It wasn’t just about the music,” the therapist recalled. “It was about honoring his life’s passion and allowing him to conduct one last time. There wasn’t a dry eye in the garden.”
The Inspiration Hospice Difference
While we’re one of Utah’s largest hospice providers, our approach to creative therapies remains deeply personalized. Our music and art therapists take time to understand each patient’s unique background, preferences, and needs.
Whether it’s playing traditional cultural music for a patient from the diverse communities of West Valley City, collaborating with a Draper resident on a painting inspired by her beloved mountain views, or helping a Murray grandfather record stories for his grandchildren, our creative therapists tailor their approach to create meaningful experiences.
These services are available to all Inspiration Hospice patients as part of our commitment to treating the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.
If you’re considering hospice care for a loved one who might benefit from music or art therapy, contact Inspiration Hospice at (385) 247-2020 or visit www.inspirationhospice.com to learn more about our comprehensive approach to end-of-life care.