Literature Review

Indiana music therapy specialists talk about the practice BallStateDailyNews.com; by Hannah Amos; originally posted 9/3/24, distributed 9/12/24 The strum of a guitar, the hum of a voice and the steady beat of a drum makes more than just music. It provides a way for people to work through their emotions.  Kirby Gilliam, owner and founder of Plainsong Music Services in Anderson, Indiana, said she noticed music creates a safe space.  ... [She] uses different techniques: expressive, receptive, recreated and the ISO principle. Expressive music therapy is when the patient makes music. The receptive technique is when the therapist makes music and the patient listens. Recreated is when patients sing songs made by other artists. Finally, the ISO principle is when the music matches the patient’s mood, and through music, they shift the mood in a positive direction, Gilliam said.  “Music therapy is an evidence-based field, based and rooted in science and research,” Gilliam said. “If it didn't have the evidence base, it would be more like hippie-dippy and anecdotal … The why is [that] music opens up your entire brain — all of the pathways.” ... Another worker at Plainsong is Hospice Coordinator Kinsey Lavy, who primarily works with geriatrics and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Editor's note: For a book specific to music therapy and music for hospice and grief care, with practical uses by mental health practitioners, I invite you to examine my book, Music of the Soul - Composing Life Out of Loss, published in Routledge's Series in Death, Dying and Bereavement, edited by Robert A. Neimeyer.

Comparative effectiveness of acupuncture vs massage for relieving pain in patients with advanced cancer The ASCO Post; by Jun J. Mao, MD, MSCE and Andrew S. Epstein, MD; 4/17/24... The IMPACT study was conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and regional sites in New York, New Jersey, and Florida to evaluate the long-term comparative effectiveness of acupuncture vs massage for pain in patients with advanced cancer. ... The primary outcome—change in worst pain intensity score from baseline to 26 weeks—was measured using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI ranging from 0–10; higher numbers indicate worse pain intensity or interference). The secondary outcomes included fatigue, insomnia, and quality of life. ... To use these therapies, it is important to seek credentialed practitioners who have training or experience in working with patients who have cancer. 

Grief and justice: A sneak peek of Providence artist Jordan Seaberry’s new exhibit Rhode Island Monthly, by Veronica Bruno; 4/8/24 "We Live Until" explores grief, social justice and human rights through the lens of hospice care. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Jordan Seaberry embraced the Providence community after attending the Rhode Island School of Design. It was there that Seaberry became involved in legislative efforts centering around criminal justice reform, which reinvigorated his artistry as a painter. Seaberry’s new exhibit, “We Live Until,” opening April 27 at the Newport Art Museum, incorporates these political and cultural issues through the intimate stories of hospice care patients. The show also gives Seaberry an opportunity to come to grips with his grandmother’s passing.

Lost for words? Research shows art therapy brings benefits for mental health The Conversation; 4/8/24 Creating art for healing purposes dates back tens of thousands of years, to the practices of First Nations people around the world. ... When people face significant physical or mental ill-health, it can be challenging to put their experiences into words. Art therapists support people to explore and process overwhelming thoughts, feelings and experiences through a reflective art-making process. This is distinct from art classes, which often focus on technical aspects of the artwork, or the aesthetics of the final product.

Music Therapy intervention to reduce symptom burden in hospice patients: A descriptive study American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; by Madison H Estell, Kevin J Whitford, Angela M Ulrich, Brianna E Larsen, Christina Wood, Maureen L Bigelow, Travis J Dockter, Kimberly L Schoonover, Amy J Stelpflug, Jacob J Strand, Monica P Walton, Maria I Lapid; 3/19/24 online ahead of printResults: Patients reported a reduction in symptom severity and emotional distress and an increase in QOL. All patients endorsed satisfaction with music therapy, describing it as particularly beneficial for stress relief, relaxation, spiritual support, emotional support, and well-being. Scores on overall QOL and stress were worse for caregivers. 

Musician Mom Cat Janice dead at 31: 'Cat saw her music go places she never expected'People, by Jordan Green; 2/28/24In January, Janice went viral on TikTok after releasing the song "Dance You Outta My Head" inspired by her son. On Wednesday, musician Cat Janice died from cancer. The announcement of the singer-songwriter's death was made via a post on her Instagram account by her family. ... "We are eternally thankful for the outpouring of love that Catherine and our family have received over the past few months," the post continued. 

'Goes beyond words': UNC Health incorporates music in health careThe Daily Tar Heel, by Akash Bhowmik; 2/25/24At UNC Health, music is a space for emotional and physical support and remains an important strategy for improving and humanizing patient care during times of crisis, music therapists Maryrose Nelson and Joyu Lee said. ... [Music therapists at UNC Health] help achieve clinical therapeutic goals – including treating pain and physiological injuries, promoting mental health outcomes and providing end-of-life care. Therapies are managed by licensed professionals who have graduated with a degree in music therapy, completed an internship experience and passed a national exam supervised by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. 

A race against time: Cancer patient's touching keepsake for his familyBNN; 2/15/24When time was running out, 44-year-old cancer patient Yiu created a heartfelt keepsake for his family. With the help of an art therapist, he cast a realistic mold of his intertwined hands with his wife's symbolizing their love and unity. This touching story highlights the power of love and hope in the face of adversity.

The importance of art in a “good death”Hyperallergic, by Brianna L. Hernandez; 2/11/24... Resham Mantri and Eliana Yoneda are two artists and death doulas who are collaborators and founders of Community Deathcare Digest, an evolving collection of art projects and death cafes, as well as a bi-weekly newsletter about death and care. The newsletter gathers resources and educational content, and coordinates mutual aid for death rituals and funeral needs.

VR relaxation therapy could be important tool for palliative care, study showsMcKnights Senior Living, by Aaron Dorman; 2/1/24Virtual reality has been gaining traction as an option for filling care and therapy gaps within senior living. But could VR even be a superior option for therapy, compared to “real-life” approaches? One new study makes this bold claim, and offers both normative and analytical evidence for why this may be the case.

Mom enters hospice in final days of cancer and releases viral song for 7-year-old sonPeople, by Jordan Greene; 1/25/24Cat Janis shared her final wish – for her song 'Dance You Outta My Head' which she wrote for her 7-year-old son — to go viral. 

Visiting Nurses Foundation awards $130,000 to Assured Hospice for comfort therapiesThe Chronicle; 1/19/24The Visiting Nurses Foundation has awarded Assured Hospice $130,000 as part of a continued partnership to provide therapies for end-of-life patients. The money supports comfort therapies, which include acupuncture and acupressure, animal-assisted therapy, guided imagery, healing touch, therapeutic touch, reiki, music and sound therapy and massages, which are integrated to enhance existing treatment plans.

Bringing peace and joy: Evensong performs familiar music for hospice patientsThe Ellsworth American, by Jess Cummings; 1/8/24Evensong, a group of choral singers operating under the Hospice Volunteers of Hancock County, has spent the last 15 years singing for individuals nearing the final moments of their lives. The group specializes in hospice and palliative care, traveling upon request all over Hancock County to sing at the bedsides and homes of patients in need. ... “Music is a huge thing,” [musical director] Cookie Horner says. “It goes to a different part of your brain than everything else…we’ve seen that firsthand.” Evensong’s repertoire includes music like spiritual and secular hymns, familiar folk songs and even popular special requests.