Blog

Music is a magical thing. Hearing a song that you love can immediately put you in a good mood, and even bring back memories. If you’re lucky enough to be able to play an instrument, it can be a big stress relief to sit and play, sometimes for hours on end. And while we’re not all Frank Sinatra or Doris Day, belting out your favorite songs really can help lift your mood. It’s no wonder then that music therapy has benefits for patients of all types, from children with autism to the elderly who might be suffering from symptoms of a Parkinson’s or dementia.

If you have a loved one in hospice care, whether they are in our Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home or in their own home, the holidays can be a challenging time. Caring for a loved one can be stressful, leaving you feeling exhausted and worried, quite the opposite of the joy and happiness we expect during the holiday season. The traditions your family has might naturally be disrupted due to the needs of caring for a seriously ill person.

From a very young age we make plans for our lives. Young girls dream of wedding dresses, high school students take college tours and SAT classes, and even as young adults we’re busy planning for our careers or saving money for retirement. Having a plan for life is important. It helps you have a direction and eases anxiety. But there is one thing many people don’t plan for, and that’s what would happen if we were ever in a situation where we weren’t able to speak for ourselves or make healthcare decisions on our own.

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and a time when we join with our parent organization, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, to raise awareness about the services and opportunities available through hospice and palliative care.