Page 42 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2025 - Online Magazine
P. 42
SENIOR RESOURCES
The Meaningfulness of Music
Circle of Life
in the
by Sofia Robles, Music Intern for Hospice of Lubbock
Music Therapy is a research-based
form of therapy that utilizes music
interventions to meet the psycho-
social, physical, and spiritual
needs of hospice patients. It can be
found in many different facilities or
settings and beneficial to patients
of all ages and diagnoses. Music
Therapists are trained professionals
who learn how to use music to
provide those who are losing their
ability to experience and express
emotions and connect with others
around them, or even with their
earlier selves. Through music
interventions, Music Therapists
can address various goals such as
the development of coping skills,
emotional expression, meaningful
usic is powerful. We sharing music with those around us, social interaction, decreasing
regularly experience its it is a beautiful way to connect people agitation and anxiety, and many other
Meffects in our daily lives, together and create new memories. goals aimed at meeting each person’s
often without realizing it. You may unique needs.
have had a bad day at work, but Music is often present during Legacy Projects are Music Therapy
your favorite song plays in the car important times of our lives. You interventions which provide
and uplifts your spirits. Music helps might always remember the song patients with the opportunity to
you feel validated and understood your mother sang to you at bedtime, leave something meaningful behind
when experiencing difficult emotions. the song that you danced to at your for their families and friends to
It can be inspiring, motivating, wedding, or the song that you played remember them in a special way.
emotional, and satisfying because when you drove your first car. We Legacy Projects help patients reflect
it is so ingrained in us as people. often remember these beautiful on their life, giving them a sense
“Individuals do not need to be told moments of our lives, especially of purpose and importance at a
to respond to music or taught how when they are brought back through time when their life can feel very
to respond to music; their bodies music, allowing us to reflect, uncertain. For example, a Legacy
and brains do it naturally” (Music, reminisce, and share these precious Project might enable a Music
Memory, and Meaning, 2017). When memories with the important people
in our lives. Therapist to help a patient create an
42 Lubbock Senior Link
