Sunday, August 16, 2009

Music in the Hospital

I was thinking more about the hospital today. There was no music. There were TV channels in general, a CNN channel, local news, and the hospital had a live feed of the chapel on a channel. But no music.

I think it could be tremendously soothing and healing to have a way to get music to patients. "Their" kind of music-a few channels of the TV with different choices, soft, classical, classic rock, lite. OK, even if it was for the visitors, it would be nice to fill in the spaces of silence.

One of my piano moms works in the neo-natal Intensive Care Unit. She said they play music in there periodically and the babies all settle down, the monitors go off less, and some of the nurses sing quietly, which soothes the babies even more, she thought.

When I was in the hospital in 1996, we brought along a CD player/radio. It was wonderful. I'm thinking of packing one for next week when I sit with Mom. My list also includes a book, chapstick, and bottled water so far. Any other 'necessities?'

Did/Does your hospital have music?

8 comments:

  1. No music at St. Vincent's(well not in the rooms but they do play an easy-listening station in the arboretum. And I'd not want to watch the telly if I were there, anyway. But yes, give me a book, perhaps a deck of cards( solitaire addict ), a drawing pad and a compostion book, for my writings. And whatever edibles( snacks ) you can sneak in...ahem...yes. :)

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  2. The Bread & Roses organization in the Bay Area brings musicians in to rest homes/nursing homes & I think hospitals--while this wouldn't be an ongoing thing like having a discman & cds, I think a lot of patients would like that sort of thing. There's some evidence that music can actually help with the physical healing process.

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  3. I believe there was an organisation active in Britain some years ago that was dedicated to the idea of music as therapy in hospitals. Not sure if it still in existence.

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  4. My dad & I would work on crossword puzzles together when we were with my mom. I also crocheted a blanket that reminds me of her and the warmth of those last few months with her.

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  5. Puzzle book, snacks, composition book, got it!

    There is a grand piano in one of the lobbies of the hospital and I plan to play while I'm there. When we were walking last week, a doctor in blue scrubs was playing away, obviously stress relieving for himself and the passersby...

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  6. A few weeks ago I took my boyfriend to the hospital for a minor surgery, and I was pleased to hear Chopin piped softly into the waiting room. The music actually carried into the halls of the hospital as well. The next piece was a version of Moonlight Sonata on guitar. It was nice.

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  7. On the PICU we all love when the "harp lady" comes to play to the kids on Sundays. The staff and families enjoy the music as much as the patients. She lets the older kids who are well enough to play her harp. She plays lullabies for the babies!

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  8. Oh that sounds lovely. Music is so much more than words can say...

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