My apologies for not posting recently. I guess life caught up with me a bit the last few weeks and I didn't get to the blog. I'll try my best to not let it happen routinely!
This last week was rare in that I didn't have a ton of people to see at the end of the month, so I could take my time with each client I did see. One client in particular was especially enjoyable. She's one of those people who is either in a great mood or extremely anxious. She was in a good mood that day, but had been pretty anxious most of this week. We talked a lot about how she could cope when she is anxious and she stated that she will close her eyes, pray, and then sing silently to herself. I asked her what she sings and she stated that she sings old hymns. That lead to a nice time of reminiscing and discussion of her faith. She spoke of times when her faith has helped her cope with other things in her life. She was really talking a lot, which was fun for her and gave me a lot of good information.
I finally got into the music portion of our session by suggesting that we sing some songs that she can easily recall when she gets anxious again. She thought that was a good idea and I played and sang hymns with her that recalled portions of our conversation. "Nearer My God to Thee", "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", and "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again" were some of her favorites that we identified as some that she could use and enjoy. While I sang, she stared at a picture of Jesus praying very intently. It was quite touching to see.
I guess the main thing I took from this session is just an affirmation of something I think we all know on some level. Regardless of faith or religion, our spiritual well-being is drastically tied to our sense of quality of life. Take some time this week to explore more how your beliefs affect your current sense of well-being and how you can take care of yourself spiritually today. It may mean praying, reading, taking a walk, talking with a friend, or just sitting quietly for a while. Whatever it means for you, take care of yourself this week!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
One More Reason
I met with a fairly new client this week. I've never seen him awake, really. He's always been sleeping or unresponsive. He does have several family members who, although they seem to rarely get along, are very loyal to him and are around pretty much constantly. They are the ones who actually requested my visit this week. They connect very well with the music and are able to release their emotions through singing and talking about their father between songs.
When I got there this time, true to tradition, he was sleeping. He had recently been placed on RLC care, which is a designation we give to people who the nurses feel are imminent, or close to being to it. His family hadn't seen him awake for quite some time. He had 2 daughters with him and they began sharing memories, singing with me, and shedding some tears. Although it was hard emotionally, it was actually why I got in hospice care. Then, the coolest part happened. He started to wake up. When I left, he had his eyes open and he said the only thing I've heard him say: "Thank you, buddy. I enjoyed it." It was really touching to me. It meant that: a] he had heard me and b] he used whatever limited energy he had to let me know my visit meant a lot to him.
I think that people have all heard stories of other people who "come to" for a brief moment when it seems they never will. It's something completely different, though, when you're there to experience it. Chalk it up to another great reason I love my job!
When I got there this time, true to tradition, he was sleeping. He had recently been placed on RLC care, which is a designation we give to people who the nurses feel are imminent, or close to being to it. His family hadn't seen him awake for quite some time. He had 2 daughters with him and they began sharing memories, singing with me, and shedding some tears. Although it was hard emotionally, it was actually why I got in hospice care. Then, the coolest part happened. He started to wake up. When I left, he had his eyes open and he said the only thing I've heard him say: "Thank you, buddy. I enjoyed it." It was really touching to me. It meant that: a] he had heard me and b] he used whatever limited energy he had to let me know my visit meant a lot to him.
I think that people have all heard stories of other people who "come to" for a brief moment when it seems they never will. It's something completely different, though, when you're there to experience it. Chalk it up to another great reason I love my job!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Am I 100?
I was seeing a patient this week that I have had some fun with. This is not going to be one of those really heart-wrenching tales to read this week. This is just one of those sessions that I like to facilitate.
The patient is 100 years old and has dementia. Unlike a lot of patients under those circumstances, however, she is very cheerful and is able to carry a conversation pretty well. The first time I met her, she said, "How old am I?" I honestly didn't know, so I told her so. She said, "Am I 100?" Again, I replied that I don't know. "Well, I sure feel like it!" was her reply. It was very funny. This last session, she agreed to a music therapy session, but said, "I'm not sure what to do for you, though." I told her that I just wanted to share some music with her, but if she wanted to sing with me even just relax with her eyes closed, that was okay. She only sang one one song, but was able to remember all the lyrics to "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."
A majority of my clients are similar to this. Hospice care is not always about big, world-shattering emotional events. A majority of the time, this is a normal thing. The people we see are just that. People. People can be goofy, serious, angry, happy, sad, and sometimes just sleepy. People are almost always the same people they were before they were on hospice care. A diagnosis or prognosis does not start when the medical tests get back. It starts long before, when they can still be themselves. It continues throughout the rest of their life. In the best case scenario, people can remain themselves until the end. That's what I'm trying to help them do.
The patient is 100 years old and has dementia. Unlike a lot of patients under those circumstances, however, she is very cheerful and is able to carry a conversation pretty well. The first time I met her, she said, "How old am I?" I honestly didn't know, so I told her so. She said, "Am I 100?" Again, I replied that I don't know. "Well, I sure feel like it!" was her reply. It was very funny. This last session, she agreed to a music therapy session, but said, "I'm not sure what to do for you, though." I told her that I just wanted to share some music with her, but if she wanted to sing with me even just relax with her eyes closed, that was okay. She only sang one one song, but was able to remember all the lyrics to "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."
A majority of my clients are similar to this. Hospice care is not always about big, world-shattering emotional events. A majority of the time, this is a normal thing. The people we see are just that. People. People can be goofy, serious, angry, happy, sad, and sometimes just sleepy. People are almost always the same people they were before they were on hospice care. A diagnosis or prognosis does not start when the medical tests get back. It starts long before, when they can still be themselves. It continues throughout the rest of their life. In the best case scenario, people can remain themselves until the end. That's what I'm trying to help them do.
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