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Music for Life

by Mary Odbert

Love of music and awareness of music’s ability to lift and lighten the spirit came to Estelle Kinsella early. Estelle daydreamed about her family being like the Van Trapp or King family. It is not a surprising fantasy or far off reality. Her family was large, loving and musically gifted. With an aunt designated the “Kate Smith of Newark” and a mother deeply involved in their church as a soloist, every family gathering became a musical event.

“Mom sang at mass, weddings and funerals,” said Estelle. “Music and my mother’s role in the church shaped my perception of music’s role in life. I learned to see death as a part of life and music’s powerful role in the process.”

Following her early influences and her heart, making music became Estelle’s life’s work. It was early in her training as a musician and vocalist that she realized, it was not music alone, but music applied to helping others that truly called to her. She moved quickly to train as a music therapist.

Music therapy uses music to help meet the physical, emotional and spiritual health needs of a patient and their loved ones.

“Music can tap deeply into the emotions and reach people in ways language alone cannot,” said Estelle. “I’ve seen music provide comfort from distress, increase self-esteem in those misunderstood, distract from pain, and connect those cut off by disability and ill health.”

Estelle learned very personally about the power of music therapy when her sister was diagnosed with cancer. Estelle recorded the song she’d written for her sister’s birthday. She put it on an iPod and played the music for her sister as she was going into surgery.

“She was so scared and tense, but the moment the music came on she smiled,” said Estelle. “The music helped her refocus her mind on what mattered most -- her family’s love and support. She let go of what she couldn’t control. I could see her visibly relax.”

Under Estelle’s guidance, Yolo Hospice has implemented a music therapy program. The type of music used, played or created differs for every patient. Music can be prerecorded, played live, sung or be instrumental. Music therapists do adapt the choice and use of music to meet the needs of each patient.

When Joann Collin’s mother was in decline with dementia, she required 24-hour a day care. She could not speak, but when Estelle brought music to her, she emerged from her confusion, engaged in the moment and sang the songs of her youth.

“I think music brings joy, and it certainly brought that to my mother,” said Joann. “It was something we could give to her – our gift. I believe the time she spent in music therapy was extremely valuable.”

Music therapy can help people identify and express emotions, increase the sense of belonging to community or family, facilitate relaxation and even improve physical comfort. The list of benefits to the patient and their loved ones is long. Joann felt deeply that the music communicated the family’s love to her mother and allowed her mother to connect with the family and others regardless of her ability to speak.

“Because of the power and benefits of music therapy, we wanted to make it available to Yolo Hospice patients,” said Doug Jena, Executive Director of Yolo Hospice. “At Yolo Hospice, our goal is to care for the whole patient, body, mind and spirit and to concentrate on making their life the best it can be. Music therapy helps us meet that goal and more deeply care for our patients.”

Yolo Hospice has integrated music therapy at every level of care. It is available to patients and loved ones. It is also available through bereavement services to both patient families and members of the community who are grieving. Only a trained, board certified music therapist should offer music therapy.

Yolo Hospice is offering a 6-week grief support group called Mourning and Music to the community. It will be held July 23 - August 27 from 1:00 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. To register for this music therapy driven grief support group or learn more about music therapy, please call the Yolo Hospice Bereavement Department at (530) 758-5566.

 

 

 

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Ted Skiera
"I've worked for 20+ years in cardiovascular and oncology nursing, most recently working as a nurse coordinator in cardiovascular research. My work with Yolo Hospice has enabled me to focus all of my acute clinical experiences into caring for patients, and their loved ones, during a most challenging period of their lives."
~Ted Skiera, RN