Do you believe music is healing?
I’ve talked quite a bit about how music is so helpful to seniors, particularly ones with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. I see how they light up when I play one of their old favourites, or the way they gently sway to the music in their wheelchair.
What I haven’t mentioned is how close this hits home for me.
My Dad passed away almost three years ago; he spent six weeks in hospice before he died. He had multiple brain tumours, which greatly affected his personality and brain function. I had accepted the fact that I would never be able to have another conversation with my Dad even before he went to hospice, but I still wanted to see him.
While he was in hospice, one of my friends would come to visit. She’d bring her guitar so she could play and sing for our enjoyment, and when she did – she brought my Dad back to us! We still couldn’t really talk, but the emotions that came through were very real. When we cried together, he was with us again. Those moments were such a precious gift and will be with me always.
I also played piano for him a couple of times, and he went right to sleep. Now that might sound a bit like an insult 😊, but he had such trouble sleeping, or even just relaxing, that seeing my Dad able to sleep was a different kind of gift, but one that was profound for me and my parents.
Whether it’s someone with cancer, dementia, or a person suffering from a deep loneliness, I really believe music is healing. To be able to help someone, even just a little bit, or just for a moment; this is a gift in itself. I’m so glad that I can give that gift to others… and that my friend was there to give that gift to my family.