The term “palliation” refers to alleviation (of a problem, disease etc.) without actually curing. Millions wait helplessly at the threshold of death for whom no avenues seem to be open, as no drug could be prescribed. They have to patiently wait for their turn to the death’s embrace. It is for them music could promise a whiff of fresh air, as music hugs them, it conveys the much-needed love, compassion and care – which cannot otherwise be obtained from the near and dear ones, engaged in their mundane material hunt.
Although varied collections of the so called ”music therapy” CDs and cassettes are flooding the market globally, there is a gross negligence of reaching the ‘appropriate’ music to those who really need it. Unfortunately very few professionals could be formally trained in medicine and music also in subjects like behaviour psychology, rehabilitation, biology and outlandish subjects like shamanism and nada yoga to cope with the musical needs of those who suffer. Severely handicapped, bed-ridden and terminally ill patients are the ones who thirst for companions, and music can take care of their emotional and the “feel goods” needs by offering untiring companionship to them.
As the field of palliative care is evolving into a recognized specialty of health care practice, the role of sounds and music which influence the listeners moods and activities is yet to be realized in India. Developed nations on the other hand, seem to be more sensitive as they employ music for palliative care. Music, has been found to enable the terminally ill patients to express, explore or confirm their identities in terms if their familial, social, cultural and ethnic heritage, which has been nourishing their life journey all through so far. It is well known that what is inexpressible, otherwise gets expressed through musical flow.
According to West (1994) music therapy can ever support the terminally ill patients though the dying process. He suggests ways and means to achieve this objective. His suggestions need scientific scrutiny, as clinical vignettes need to be presented to illustrate how West’s theoretical model can be incorporated into music therapy practices with terminally ill patients. Awareness of West’s suggestions and theoretical models of the dying process supported by examples of how they are applied could benefit music therapists. What we seem to need for them to make the rest of their days peaceful and productive therefore is just not a tax concession to our elders, but a strong emotional support. As a love remedy, music can make their shrinking years or months or days or hours, somewhat worth-living if not blooming.
This author had several occasions to observe that songs familiar to a person during his or her childhood can work wonders, as they elicit a range of emotional responses to them. Some even cry on hearing them. Those tunes and rhythms which delighted a person in childhood brings back the memories of his or her youth and security. Such music can be useful in an synerdisciplinary music therapy treatment approach for hospices and in palliative care.
The role of the clinician in palliative care treatment team continues to evolve, expand, and be re-defined as patients and families are successfully served in and by music therapy. The terms interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary are often used to describe such inclusive treatment teams. A new term, “synerdisciplinary” has come into vogue recently, which builds and expands on previous terms. The related teens “synergetic” is also considered as it relates to music therapy teams themselves within hospice and palliative care organizations. In this case, it refers to music therapists working together as a department with differing but complementary treatment approaches, philosophies, and orientations to their work in palliative and hospice music therapy settings.
Conclusion
There is a need of universities and music institutions taking up experiences and research work on how music therapists could build upon existing foundations so as to consolidate music therapy’s future in palliative care and the larger health care movement. When people are dying, they undoubtedly fluctuate through various psychological states. Authors have tried to incorporate these psychological states into theoretical models that describe the process of dying. It is essential that violence in death is greatly reduced through the love, compassion and peace Offered by selected pieces of music.
This article was published in ‘Ayurveda And All’ December 2005, Page 53, 54
Edited by Geeta Shreedar, Mar 31, 2021